Tying Instructions for a Hale Bopp Leech Fly

The Hale Bopp leech fly was developed as a stillwater artificial fly for lake and pond fishing using a floating fly line. Designed to resemble a leech, the Hale Bopp is an excellent fly for trout and bass. This fly can be tied in several color variations, such as olive, brown or yellow. They can be tied weighted or not. The following recipe is for a weighted black version with a gold bead head.

Things You'll Need

  • Number 6-to-10 streamer or nymph hook
  • Black 6/0 thread
  • Black marabou for tail
  • Blended black and brown angora goat for body
  • Ribbing: Black thread
  • Red 6/0 thread
  • Gold bead for the head
  • Head cement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Slide a gold bead on the hook shank to the hook eye. This will add weight to the fly so it will sink.

    • 2

      Tie in a small amount of black marabou for the tail. Make sure the marabou tail is slightly longer than the hook. Let the thread remain at the tail.

    • 3

      Dub a small amount of black angora fur onto the thread to form a body. Begin to wind the dubbing forward toward the hook eye and secure it with several turns of thread. Be sure to tease out the long fibers of the fur, as these will give the fly motion in the water.

    • 4

      Tie off the black thread and cut it close to the gold bead. Tie in red thread just behind the gold bead and take several turns to form the impression of gills. Tie it off and cut the thread.

    • 5

      Complete the Hale Bopp Leech fly by tying in the black thread at the tail and winding it forward in segments to form ribbing. Make sure strands of angora fur are teased out. Tie it off behind the red thread and apply head cement to secure both color threads.