Bodkin / Patterns

Hot Head Mini Leech

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Jig

  • Hook Jig hook (60-degree), Tiemco 2488H or Firehole 516, #12-14, #12-14
  • Thread Black (or olive) 8/0 / 70 denier

Materials

  • Hook Jig hook, Tiemco 2488H or Firehole 516, #12-14 (1)
  • Bead Fluorescent hot orange (or fl. pink) slotted tungsten bead, 2.8-3.3mm (1)
  • Thread Black (for black version) or olive (for olive version) UTC 70 denier (-)
  • Body Black (or olive) Krystal Flash / Micro Chenille wrapped as a slim body (1 length)
  • Wing / tail Black (or olive) Micro Pine Squirrel Zonker strip (1 short strip)
  • Thorax / collar Black (or olive) ostrich herl, 2-3 turns (2-3 herls)

How to tie it

  1. Slide a fl. hot orange slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook (slot forward) and seat it behind the eye. Start thread behind the bead and run to the bend.
  2. Tie in a short strip of micro pine squirrel zonker at the bend so the hair sweeps back one shank-length as the leech tail/wing.
  3. Wrap black (or olive) Krystal Flash or micro chenille forward over the shank to build a thin, slightly flashy body up to about the 70% point.
  4. Tie in 2-3 strands of ostrich herl just behind the bead and take 2-3 turns to form a soft, breathing collar; stroke it back and tie off.
  5. Build a small thread collar behind the bead, whip finish and cement. The hot bead rides as the head and jigs the fly up-and-down.
  6. For the olive version, use olive thread, olive squirrel, olive body and olive ostrich throughout.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns