October Fly O' the Month - Micro Leach

[RickB]

October Fly O' the Month , "Micro Leach"! Any color, any size!! Post you pictures in this thread and they must be uploaded in this months Fly O' the Month Gallery to qualify for the prize. Happy tying! Also, johnk is now going to be donating 2 dozen of his own creations to the monthly winner. A very generous donation for the contributing members of FFBC, thanks John!!!

[johnk]

I do believe this is a category I can sink my teeth into and might as well get it started:



More to come later!

[11th Warrior]

John's in, which means I'm out, LOL. How can I compete with that beauty red/black combo

[johnk]

John's in, which means I'm out, LOL. How can I compete with that beauty red/black combo

Hey! I guess I'll have to try the reverse psychology angle. I'm going to keep posting photos of leeches until you get off the fence!

[24_7Fisherman]

that red/black one, is it tied with Mohair ?? I hardly ever fish leeches probably mostly cause i like the ones like you tied but havent bought any of that stuff yet LOL to busy fishing chironies mostly

nice leeches John.

[johnk]

that red/black one, is it tied with Mohair ?? I hardly ever fish leeches probably mostly cause i like the ones like you tied but havent bought any of that stuff yet LOL to busy fishing chironies mostly

nice leeches John.

No, not mohair. The back half is light burgundy alpaca with cranberry holographic flash mixed in and the front half is 50% Arizona Simi Seal and 50% black rabbit cut from the strip. Makes for a nice supple dubbing with good breathability in the water. There are no commercial dubbings manufactured today that I don't alter in some way. The $13 coffee grinder is a valuable tool that every fly tyer should utilize. After fifteen years of commercial tying I am currently on my second grinder.

I probably fish chironomids as much as anyone and carry upwards of 2000 such flies in my gear bag but there is something missing in the intial take. It is a great feeling to watch the indicator repeatedly plunge but after a while you long to feel those hard takes that fishing leeches provides. If chironomids are the number one staple and provide 20% of the fish's diet, then what are you doing the other 80% of the time?

[24_7Fisherman]

I thought chironies were 40% of a trouts diet ?? I do fish other flies as well its just leeches have never been in the regular rotation however, probably mostly because i dont get to fish interior lakes in the fall very often. something i plan to remedy next year (wasnt able this year because of the new arrival of my son earier this year)

[11th Warrior]

Hey! I guess I'll have to try the reverse psychology angle. I'm going to keep posting photos of leeches until you get off the fence!

Alright, alright I'll do something up this week and get it posted, lol. You're a tough guy to follow and I've never tied my own leeches, let alone micro leeches, so don't get too excited. I'm going to dig out that mohair we talked about awhile ago and see what I can come up with. I've got about 20 pkgs of simi-seal (LOVE that stuff) so I'll see how many hooks I can waste in trying to come up with something...competitive

[johnk]

Alright, alright I'll do something up this week and get it posted, lol. You're a tough guy to follow and I've never tied my own leeches, let alone micro leeches, so don't get too excited. I'm going to dig out that mohair we talked about awhile ago and see what I can come up with. I've got about 20 pkgs of simi-seal (LOVE that stuff) so I'll see how many hooks I can waste in trying to come up with something...competitive

Okay, I'll do my best not to get toooooo excited!:cigar:
After talking with Rick, it might be worth your while and anyone else's who is humming and hawwing about posting an entry!

[johnk]

Here's a couple more for ya;





This is what happens after 20 'bows and browns gang up on your fly! Fished under an indicator in 6' of water in early June. Goes to show that leeches are NOT just a fall staple and chironomids are not the be-all-end-all of spring flyfishing!