Post by Nick Pionessa on Jun 29, 2010 9:12:36 GMT -5
Foxy Leech
This is a fly that has been around for years now and has a small following but isn't widely known or appreciated. it was originally developed as an alternative to bunny strip leeches and their difficulty in casting. this fly has great bulk and motion in the water but is very easy to cast on about any rig. keeping the hair sparse and sort of "hollow" is the key and the source of it's amazing motion in the water. with the higher than usual water we have had this year it was a fly i used a lot and it performed two different times when nothing else worked and really showed me it deserves a permanent place in my box by working very consistently all season. it's a great fly to put on for the last hour before dark too, great silhouette.
it has had many versions over it's lifespan but this one has stuck for the past two years simply by being the most durable. in the past i used glass beads and plastic tubes and they worked just fine but didn't sink worth a darn. i switched to copper tubes and hot beads but it then gets a little pricey so the dubbed head took over. originally i had been spinning the hair in a loop but it's a difficult technique. the ball of dubbing does the same thing and makes the fly much faster to tie. color combos are endless and i would tie them in any color scheme that has worked for you. arctic fox body fur also makes great smaller versions too with even more motion. any hair you like can be used with this technique.
my biggest LE trib fish came on this fly and my biggest from my home creek too. when the water is up and has some color it's sure become my first choice.
This is a fly that has been around for years now and has a small following but isn't widely known or appreciated. it was originally developed as an alternative to bunny strip leeches and their difficulty in casting. this fly has great bulk and motion in the water but is very easy to cast on about any rig. keeping the hair sparse and sort of "hollow" is the key and the source of it's amazing motion in the water. with the higher than usual water we have had this year it was a fly i used a lot and it performed two different times when nothing else worked and really showed me it deserves a permanent place in my box by working very consistently all season. it's a great fly to put on for the last hour before dark too, great silhouette.
it has had many versions over it's lifespan but this one has stuck for the past two years simply by being the most durable. in the past i used glass beads and plastic tubes and they worked just fine but didn't sink worth a darn. i switched to copper tubes and hot beads but it then gets a little pricey so the dubbed head took over. originally i had been spinning the hair in a loop but it's a difficult technique. the ball of dubbing does the same thing and makes the fly much faster to tie. color combos are endless and i would tie them in any color scheme that has worked for you. arctic fox body fur also makes great smaller versions too with even more motion. any hair you like can be used with this technique.
my biggest LE trib fish came on this fly and my biggest from my home creek too. when the water is up and has some color it's sure become my first choice.