Bodkin / Patterns

Schultzy's Red Eye Leech

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook streamer (Daiichi 2546), 4-1/0
  • Thread black 140 denier

Materials

  • Pseudo/dumbbell eyes Red dumbbell eyes (1 pair (7/32-1/4"))
  • Flashabou Copper or gold flashabou (6-8 strands)
  • Rabbit strip (Zonker) Black or olive rabbit strip (1 strip ~2-3")
  • Mallard or wood duck flank Natural mallard flank (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Lock the hook in, lay a thread base, and lash the red pseudo-eyes on top of the shank near the hook eye, Clouser-style, so the fly rides hook-point-up.
  2. Run the thread to the bend and tie in a sparse tail of copper or gold Flashabou about one shank length long.
  3. Bind the tip end of a rabbit strip down at the bend; the free strip runs 2-3 inches (about a shank-and-a-half) of waving Zonker behind the hook.
  4. Wrap the front of the rabbit strip forward to build a fur body up to just behind the eyes, stroking the fibers back on each turn.
  5. Tie in a mallard or wood-duck flank feather by the tip and wrap 2 to 2.5 turns for a soft, breathing collar; sweep the fibers back and lock them.
  6. Build a small thread head between and in front of the eyes, whip finish, and cement.

Tying videos

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