Bodkin / Patterns

Redhead Leech Balanced

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Note: This recipe has not been verified against a documented source, or disagrees with one. Treat the materials and steps as unconfirmed.

TroutFlies dressing

  • Hook Umpqua XC400BL-BN, 8
  • Thread Semperfli Classic Waxed Black 6/0

Materials

  • Bead 4.0mm Inverting Tungsten Bead
  • Tail Whiting Hebert Miner Hen Saddle Hackle Feather Wild Type Brown
  • Tail Flash Red and Black Flashabou
  • Body Arizona Diamond Dub Black/Red
  • Collar Black Squirrel Zonker in a dubbing loop

How to tie it

  1. Lay the hook in the vise. Set a balance pin along the top of the shank so it projects past the eye, slide a slotted bead onto the pin so it sits a short way ahead of the eye, then lash the pin down tight and snip the excess. That forward bead is what balances the fly horizontal.
  2. Start red thread and cover the shank and the base of the pin.
  3. At the bend tie in a marabou tail about one shank length.
  4. Tie in a marabou plume (or dub a slim body) and wrap forward to just behind the bead, forming a lean leech body; add a turn of ice dub if you want a little sparkle.
  5. Build a bold red thread collar right behind the bead, the red-head trigger.
  6. Whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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