Bodkin / Patterns

Mini Squirrel Leech

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Advanced · 2 versions

Charlie's Fly Box dressing

  • Hook Tiemco 2457, 12-16
  • Thread Rusty Brown UNI 6/0

Materials

  • Bead 3/32" Copper Tungsten Bead
  • Flash Red flashabou
  • Tail Rusty Brown Pine Squirrel Zonker Strip
  • Collar Rusty Brown Pine Squirrel Zonker Strip

How to tie it

  1. Slide the 3/32" Copper Tungsten Bead onto the Tiemco 2457 and start the Rusty Brown UNI 6/0 behind it, wrapping back only as far as the hook point and dressing that stretch of shank solidly.
  2. Bind a single strand of Red Flashabou down at the point with three or four turns, fold the front end back and catch it with a couple more turns, then trim - one strand is all you want, just a hint of flash.
  3. Tuck the end of a Rusty Brown Pine Squirrel Zonker Strip up against the back of the bead and bind it down, leaving no spare space so the neck stays tight.
  4. Part the fur at the rear and trim only the leather to set a short tail, then trim the flash a touch longer than the tail; wet the fur down and sweep it back out of the way.
  5. Build a dubbing loop two or three inches long, cross the thread to close it, and slide the material spring up the vise to hold one leg so the loop stays open.
  6. Pull a clump of fur out of the same squirrel strip at right angles to the hide, hold it tight and pull the skin away from it; lay the fur in the loop, trim out any stubs of hide, pinch just under the fur and spin the whirl into a furry chenille.
  7. Wrap the fur chenille forward like a soft hackle - a turn, sweep the fibers back, another turn - and jam it right up to the bead, then tie off behind the bead with a couple of tight turns and trim the loop out.
  8. Wet your fingers and sweep the collar back, build just enough thread head behind the bead to clean things up, and whip finish.
  9. Pick everything back with a dubbing brush and put a shot of head cement behind the bead to lock things down.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie.

Tying videos

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