Bullhead Silver Leech
I has been another very busy week. Our first volume in the Fly Fishing Series, entitled, Fishing the Film is at the printers and we’ve been proofing and approving. llast approval will be today and then off to the presses!
In the meantime, I am getting ready for a fishing excursion to Canada to try for lake trout in the shallows. They come in at the end of September or early October. The season closes October 1, so here’s hoping they get into the shallows a few days before then. I’ve been tying flies for the trip, and one that I know will work well on the lakers, walleyes, and pike of the lake is the Bullhead Silver Leech. This is an exception imitation of many minnow species , and has done yoeman work for me the world over. Fish it slow, fast, on a nymph rig, jig it, etc. It works.
Mount the hook in the vise (in this case a TAR 200, size 2), attach the thread and tie in a tail of pearlescent Jewel Flash (or Flashabou).
Tie in a piece of silver wire, then attach a length of pearlescent crystal chenille. Wind the chenille to form a body that covers the rear 3/4 of the hook shank.
Trim away the excess body material and tie in a strip of silver mink (or similar material) at the front of the body, Wrap the silver wire as a rib to lace the strip tightly to the top of the body.
Form a spinning loop at the front of the wing and add a mixture of medium gray and white dubbing fibers (equal amounts of each) cut to about 1 inch in length (Here I've used FoxxFurr). Spin the loop very tight and wrap to form a tapered head. Brush out the head with a dubbing brush.
Add eyes and red throat with permanent marking pens.