Steve Hudson
Senior Member
Last week on The Tying Bench, we looked at tying the Yarn Leech and the Basic Bunny Leech. This week, we'll take our leeches one step further with the Dubbing Loop Bunny Leech.
The Dubbing Loop Bunny Leech introduces you to the technique of using dubbing loops when tying flies. A dubbing loop basically allows you to create your own long-fiber "chenille," and if you make that chenille with rabbit fur then you'll end up with a great material for tying a fantastic leech imitation.
For this Saturday's patterns, here's what you'll need:
Hook: Streamer or Woolly Bugger hook, size 6. A 3XL hook is preferred.
Bead: A pink, gold or silver conehead. I like to use tungsten coneheads on these, as the weight helps get the flies get down deeper.
Thread: Black, size 3/0. Or choose a color to match the color scheme of your leech materials.
Weighting wire: Lead-free weighting wire, 0.025 or 0.03 size.
Tail: Straight-cut rabbit strip (see note on color below)
Body: Homemade long-fiber chenille made from more straight-cut rabbit strip used as described in the presentation.
Flash: A few strands of flash material in a color that complements the tail/body combo.
Collar: Small dubbed collar made from a pinch of the same rabbit material, applying it like dubbing and wrapping a few turns directly behind the bonehead.
NOTE ON COLOR OF BODY AND TAIL: Generally, when tying leeches, the tail and body should be the same color. Favorite colors are black, brown, purple or olive. Another possibility is to use "fire tiger" (orange and yellow, as shown in the photo here) to tie a leech that imitates a baby brown trout. Also, all-white works well when you're specifically imitating shad.
Some specialized tools and materials you will need to have:
> Two large plastic potato chip bag clips. You want clips where the business end is at least 4 or 5 inches long
> Dubbing loop making tool (also called a dubbing loop spinner).
> Hook-clip type hackle pliers (the kind with a little hook that grabs and grips the hackle...that style is much preferred over the "spring-loaded tweezer" style for this application)
> Dubbing wax (essential!)
> Large craft scissors
> Head cement (Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails)
ZOOM login for Leeches Three Ways, Part 2:
Saturday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. Eastern
Meeting ID: 897 9700 1392
Passcode: FlyTying15 [case sensitive]
The Dubbing Loop Bunny Leech introduces you to the technique of using dubbing loops when tying flies. A dubbing loop basically allows you to create your own long-fiber "chenille," and if you make that chenille with rabbit fur then you'll end up with a great material for tying a fantastic leech imitation.
For this Saturday's patterns, here's what you'll need:
Hook: Streamer or Woolly Bugger hook, size 6. A 3XL hook is preferred.
Bead: A pink, gold or silver conehead. I like to use tungsten coneheads on these, as the weight helps get the flies get down deeper.
Thread: Black, size 3/0. Or choose a color to match the color scheme of your leech materials.
Weighting wire: Lead-free weighting wire, 0.025 or 0.03 size.
Tail: Straight-cut rabbit strip (see note on color below)
Body: Homemade long-fiber chenille made from more straight-cut rabbit strip used as described in the presentation.
Flash: A few strands of flash material in a color that complements the tail/body combo.
Collar: Small dubbed collar made from a pinch of the same rabbit material, applying it like dubbing and wrapping a few turns directly behind the bonehead.
NOTE ON COLOR OF BODY AND TAIL: Generally, when tying leeches, the tail and body should be the same color. Favorite colors are black, brown, purple or olive. Another possibility is to use "fire tiger" (orange and yellow, as shown in the photo here) to tie a leech that imitates a baby brown trout. Also, all-white works well when you're specifically imitating shad.
Some specialized tools and materials you will need to have:
> Two large plastic potato chip bag clips. You want clips where the business end is at least 4 or 5 inches long
> Dubbing loop making tool (also called a dubbing loop spinner).
> Hook-clip type hackle pliers (the kind with a little hook that grabs and grips the hackle...that style is much preferred over the "spring-loaded tweezer" style for this application)
> Dubbing wax (essential!)
> Large craft scissors
> Head cement (Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails)
ZOOM login for Leeches Three Ways, Part 2:
Saturday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. Eastern
Meeting ID: 897 9700 1392
Passcode: FlyTying15 [case sensitive]
