Mayer’s Mini Leech – create a smaller and more realistic leech

Mayer’s Mini Leech , Black

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Tying Instructions

Tying Instructions: Mayer’s Mini Leech

1. Mash the barb and attach the hook to the vise. Secure the thread behind the eye and wrap to the midpoint of the shank.

2. Attach both a red and black strand of Krystalflash to the top of the hook shank and secure the flash down to the bend of the hook.

3. Bring the thread back to the midpoint of the shank.

4. Twist the strands together and wrap the strands up to the midpoint of the hook shank and secure. Clip off the excess.

5. Take the piece of Mini Squirrel Zonker strip and remover the front section of fur about 1/8″.

6. Lay the clean section of the hide just behind the eye and secure with tight thread wraps

7. Clip off the rear section of the zonker strip for about 2 shank lengths to give a 1″ length to the hide.

8. Add a few more wraps to transition from the edge of the hide to the hook shank

9. Select a full Ostrich Herl by pulling it off the base of the quill.

10. Clean the base of the Ostrich Herl of fibers and secure that base to the hook shank just in front of the fur.

11.Wrap about 8 times for a Ostrich herl thorax and secure the herl just behind the eye with a couple of tight thread wraps.

12. Clip off the excess herl.

13. Apply two whip finishes.

14. Apply some head cement with a needle to the thread wraps. Try not to get any cement on the herl fibers.

15. The finished Mayer Mini Leech, Black.

 

 

Materials to Order Material, click the link
Hook	TMC 2488H #12-18
Thread	Uni-thread 8/0 Black
Body	Black and Red Krystal Flash
Thorax	Black Ostrich Herl
Wing	Black Pine Squirrel

Mayer’s Mini Leech

Many times the leech pattern you need is just tied too big or too long to mimic the natural leeches found in many streams or lakes. I experienced this while fishing at Panguitch Lake in Southern Utah.

Fortunately, Landon Mayer spoke to our local club and showed us how he ties his Mayer’s Mini Leech. Landon presents this pattern to selective trout and found success with a nice 16 inch cutthroat on the first cast. Like most guide flies, it is a simple tie with just three materials mostly tied just behind the eye of the hook. The key to this pattern is the micro pine squirrel that can handle a small hook, retain the tapered shape and provide the action of a living leech.

Cowboy Leech

Landon’s inspiration for this pattern came from a trip he had on the South Platte with Jason and Mark Hamrick in 2005. John Barr was with Landon and brought his Slumpbuster streamers which utilized a Pine Squirrel strip for the zonker wing, sizes 8 and 10. The Hamrick’s also had their version of a leech pattern known as the Cowboy Leech that utilized a Pine Squirrel strip and was tied down to a size 14.

Both had great success but Landon got the idea of creating an even smaller leech pattern by using Micro Pine Squirrel strips to achieve a size as small as a #18.  A smaller pattern would need to be tied on a strong hook with a large gap and straight eye, so the TMC 2488H seemed to be the likely candidate. Rather than using Pine Squirrel for the thorax as both Barr and the Hamricks did, Landon choose large Ostrich herls to create a nice body that is proportional to the hook.

Presentation

The pattern can be dead drifted with or without an indicator. When there is wind, this pattern can become more effective with the undulating action that the micro pine squirrel provides. Landon also likes to use this pattern as a trailing fly behind a streamer and finds that when the trout is attracted to the streamer but will not commit, they will usually take the smaller, unweighted Mini Leech. Another method Landon likes is to tie the Mini Leech as the lead fly on a streamer rig, so that the streamer appears to be chasing the leech. According to Landon, this parade really ticks off the larger trout.

Mayer Mini Leech, Brown

Hook	TMC 2488H #12-18
Thread	Veevus 10/0 Brown
Body	Black and Red Krystal Flash
Thorax	Brown Ostrich Herl
Wing	Brown Pine Squirrel

Mayer Mini Leech, Olive

Hook	TMC 2488H #12-18
Thread	Uni-thread 8/0 Olive
Body	Mixed Colors Krystal Flash
Thorax	Olive Ostrich Herl
Wing	Olive Pine Squirrel

Mayer Mini Leech Jig , Black

Hook	Fire 516 #12-18
Thread	Uni-thread 8/0 Black
Head	Black Slotted Bead 7/64
Body	Black Krystal Flash
Thorax	Black Ostrich Herl
Wing	Black Pine Squirrel

Mayer Mini Leech Jig, Brown

Hook	Fire 516 #12-18
Thread	Veevus 10/0 Brown
Head	Copper Slotted Bead 7/64
Body	Copper Krystal Flash
Thorax	Brown Ostrich Herl
Wing	Brown Pine Squirrel

Cowboy Leech

Hook	TMC 2488H #12-18
Thread	Veevus 10/0 Brown
Head	Gold Bead 7/64
Collar	Brown Pine Squirrel
Wing	Brown Pine Squirrel