How to Tie an Articulated Leech Pattern

The articulated leech is a jointed fly fishing pattern that is tied in a variety of different styles. The leech is fished in an active manner to imitate the natural movements of a leech or baitfish. Tying the leech requires two hooks, basic materials and standard fly-tying tools. The articulated leech uses large portions and does not require technical fly tying skills. The process does require basic skills and the ability to follow specific directions.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • 2-2XL streamer hooks
  • 3/0 thread
  • Rabbit strips
  • 0x tippet
  • Whip finisher
  • Head cement
  • Scissors
Show More

Instructions

  1. Tail Section

    • 1

      Place the hook in the fly-tying vise and clamp the jaws. Start the thread near the eye of the hook and wrap it forward to the bend in the hook.

    • 2

      Measure a rabbit strip to match one-half the length of the hook shank. Hold the rabbit on the top of the hook and make six firm wraps to secure the tail in place. Do not cut away the base of the strip. Wrap the thread to the eye of the hook.

    • 3

      Wrap the rabbit strip down the hook shank until you reach the eye. Stroke the fur forward as you go to cover the hook shank in an even pattern. Make six firm thread wraps at the eye of the hook to secure the rabbit strip in place. Cut away the base of the rabbit strip and use a whip finisher to half hitch the thread. Cut away the thread and remove the hook from the fly-tying vise.

    Head Section

    • 4

      Place the hook in the fly-tying vise and clamp the jaws. Start the thread at the eye of the hook and wrap it to the bend in the hook. Hold a length of 0x tippet on the hook shank and wrap the thread over the tippet until you reach the eye of the hook. Wrap the thread back to the bend in the hook.

    • 5

      Thread the tippet through the eye of the tail section hook and double the tippet back on the hook shank in the vise. Wrap the thread over the tippet until you reach the eye of the hook and cut away the excess tippet.

    • 6

      Wrap the thread to the bend in the hook. Hold a rabbit strip on the hook bend with the end of the strip covering the eye of the tail section hook. Make six firm thread wraps to lock the tail in place. Wrap the thread to the eye of the hook.

    • 7

      Wrap the rabbit strip to the eye of the hook. Stroke the fur forward with each wrap to cover the entire hook shank. Make six thread wraps around the rabbit strip at the eye of the hook. Cut away the excess rabbit.

    • 8

      Use a whip finisher to half hitch the thread. Cut away the thread and add a small drop of head cement to the half hitched section.