How to Tie the Bunny Leech Fly

Learn how to tie the Bunny Leech fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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If you're streamer fishing this fall, you should have a bunny leech in your box. Whether you tie it with a hot cone or not, trout key in on leeches in the spring and the fall, and this pattern will move fish from cover like few other patterns. Plus, it's really easy to tie and only requires a few materials. This is also a great pattern for Steelhead and Salmon that are keyed in on egg sucking leeches during the fall King Salmon run and the fall/winter Steelhead run. Tune in as Jared provides step-by-step instructions to help you tie this popular freshwater fly pattern.

Materials:

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

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• Umpqua X-Series XBG580 Hook - 1/0
• Hareline Brass Cone Heads - Medium, Fl. Pink
• Hareline Spooled Lead Wire
• Veevus GSP Thread - Black
• Hareline Touch Dub Wax
• Hareline Magnum Rabbit Strips - Black
• Hareline Arctic Fox Zonker - Black
• Stonfo Turbo Dubbing Spinner
• Dr. Slick Dubbing Comb and Brush

Step One:

Start the fly by seating the Brass Cone using Lead Wire. Place the cone just behind the eye of the hook then wrap the lead wire down the hook shank. Push the lead wire up against the cone to hold it in place.

Step Two:

Start your thread and tie in the tail of the fly. Measure the tail so it extends roughly 1.25 times the length of the hook shank. Strip/cut some of the fibers at the tie-in point so you can tie the rabbit strip in easier. Tie it in just behind the lead wire so it doesn't create a bump.

Step Three:

Create a dubbing loop and use dub wax to enhance the stickiness of your thread. This will help hold the Arctic Fox Zonker in place. The dubbing loop should be roughly 10 inches long.

Step Four:

After putting dub wax on the thread, place your Arctic Fox Hairs into the loop and spread them evenly throughout. After spreading the hairs, attach a dubbing spinner at the bottom of the dubbing loop and spin the loop so the hair gets trapped and spiraled in the loop.

Step Five:

After spinning the loop with your Stonfo Turbo Dubbing Spinner, use a dubbing brush to pick out the hairs to create a full-bodied hair loop that you can then wrap to create the body of the fly.

Step Six:

After prepping the dubbing loop, wrap it around the hook shank to create the body of the fly. Add extra wraps right behind the cone head to further anchor the cone head right behind the eye of the hook. Use your thread to tie off the dubbing loop and trim any excess.

Step Seven:

Again, take the dubbing comb/brush and comb the Arctic Fox Zonker Hair to untrap any fibers and create a smooth body of the fly. At this point, if you feel like your profile is a little sparse, you can add another dubbing loop right behind the cone head.

Step Eight:

Throw a whip finish and you're done! That's the Bunny Leech, a great pattern for two-handed trout spey fishing in the fall or winter Steelhead fishing. This is a great pattern for Salmon, too, and can be used in a variety of scenarios to target predatory fish.

Questions?

Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].