Tying The Ddh Leech

[drew03cmc]

It is not mohair, but that fly looks like it would be great in a #8 here locally...I might want to get ahold of a lot of dubbing so I can tie some up!

[3wt]

I beg to differ...well, wikipedia does:

"Mohair usually refers to a silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat.[1]"

If the leech yarn used for mohair had some flash in it, you could use it and skip the whole dubbing loop thing.

Even with the other stuff in the dubbing you have the same fly as a mohair leech, just slightly different body.

I'm talking mainly about the phil rowly pictures. The big fat ones look like a differnt fly altogether.

[flyfisheranonymous]

The big difference between this fly and others that are similar is the dubbing material. I have been blending my own dubbing since 1976. Since that time I have not used solid dubbing colors at all. I use colors to make colors, ie. my brown has no brown in it at all but a mixture of colors to make brown. When I first started to tie this fly I used rabbit hair and Angora goat hair. Through time I have found that the rabbit blends easier, nicer and moves in the water better. Also to let you guys know I did not copy this pattern from anyone ( it came from my own demented mind). I have been tying it since 1995 and have sent it all over the world including Germany, Austrailia, New Zealand, Belgium, accross the States and Canada. Not to sound cocky or arrogant but when did these other guys come up with the patterns for a sparkle minnow and fuzzle bug, after they saw my pattern.

[sparkleminnow]

Not to sound cocky or arrogant but when did these other guys come up with the patterns for a sparkle minnow and fuzzle bug, after they saw my pattern.

I first tied the sparkleminnow in '94. Tom Yocum from the Flyfisher's Outfit in Springfield, Illinois, helped me with the materials ideas. After testing it for several months, George Stoll from Fly & Field in Chicago, helped me with the next step in it's develpment. After that, it's all me. I just now learned of your DHD.

Montana Fly has been carrying my pattern for a couple of years, now. They learned of it from Tom Yocum. Your pattern is similar to mine, but I feel that the bead head that I use is more universal in use, as you can let it dead drift (read: tumble along the bottom of the stream). Great technique for GL steelhead. Or, fish it as a streamer, in both slow, or fast-to very fast flows. Bead chain eyes, or dumbell eyes allow it to ride hook point up, but at the same time, cause them to twist light leaders in heavy current when fished as a streamer.

You used a different material, but we apply it in the same manner. Mine, too, has caught dozens of different species. However, I think the Angel Hair sets it apart from WB's, and Mohair leeches in that it's body material has a sheen, and prizmatic effect that ALSO has motion like rabbit fur if not applied too heavily. Estaz has a similar effect, but is too stiff to have to have the rabbit fur-like motion.

Of particular note is the pearl pattern. It is FAR more effective as a baitfish pattern than patterns that do not have the pearlescence of the Angel Hair. Though I do tie it in other colors, and have done well with them, the pearl is my go-to color...most of the time. "BLack Light" is a color that is devestating for GL King salmon. And, the "crawfish brown" pattern seems to be the hot color for smallies on the Huzzah.

So, it seems we developed our patterns apart from one another, and I have not "copied" yours.

[flyfisheranonymous]

I first tied the sparkleminnow in '94. Tom Yocum from the Flyfisher's Outfit in Springfield, Illinois, helped me with the materials ideas. After testing it for several months, George Stoll from Fly & Field in Chicago, helped me with the next step in it's develpment. After that, it's all me. I just now learned of your DHD.

Montana Fly has been carrying my pattern for a couple of years, now. They learned of it from Tom Yocum. Your pattern is similar to mine, but I feel that the bead head that I use is more universal in use, as you can let it dead drift (read: tumble along the bottom of the stream). Great technique for GL steelhead. Or, fish it as a streamer, in both slow, or fast-to very fast flows. Bead chain eyes, or dumbell eyes allow it to ride hook point up, but at the same time, cause them to twist light leaders in heavy current when fished as a streamer.

You used a different material, but we apply it in the same manner. Mine, too, has caught dozens of different species. However, I think the Angel Hair sets it apart from WB's, and Mohair leeches in that it's body material has a sheen, and prizmatic effect that ALSO has motion like rabbit fur if not applied too heavily. Estaz has a similar effect, but is too stiff to have to have the rabbit fur-like motion.

Of particular note is the pearl pattern. It is FAR more effective as a paitfish pattern than patterns that do not have the pearlescence of the Angel Hair. Though I do tie it in other colors, and have done well with them, the pearl is my go-to color...most of the time. "BLack Light" is a color that is devestating for GL King salmon. And, the "crawfish brown" pattern seems to be the hot color for smallies on the Huzzah.

So, it seems we developed our patterns apart from one another, and I have not "copied" yours.

Don't mean to get people riled up. I do realize that some patterns will be tied up that are very similar and result in negetivity between people. That is what I don't want to create. I believe we have both created a great fly that works and by chance look similar. I wouldn't mind asking a few questions about your pattern if you don't mind answering them. I would also like to explain my fly to you if you are open to it.

[sparkleminnow]

Well, it seems that when you quoted me, you accidentally added your response into that quote.

Anyway, no hard feelings. Just wanted to set the record straight. I suppose you can ask any questions you like. If you feel the forum will benefit from your questions, ask them here. OR, you can PM me through the message board.

[flyfisheranonymous]

Well, it seems that when you quoted me, you accidentally added your response into that quote.

Anyway, no hard feelings. Just wanted to set the record straight. I suppose you can ask any questions you like. If you feel the forum will benefit from your questions, ask them here. OR, you can PM me through the message board.

Didn't mean to do that. This techie stuff can give me a headache sometimes. First question, what type of dubbing do you prefer to use and why.

[sparkleminnow]

I prefer Angel Hair, or Lite Brite. They both have the same properties. The material is the key. The body material is synthetic, and has an action that will behave as rabbit fur in current. The trouble is that the material's denier has been changed by the manufacturer. The coarse material is better, unless you are using the newer material. The newer material will be finer, and have to be worked in denser than usual. Both will work, but I prefer the nmore dense material.

[flyfisheranonymous]

I think I got this figured out now. 'Bout time! I assume you use a dubbing loop to do your fly ( Haven't seen a picture of it yet ) and if you do don't you find the coarser material a bit tougher to handle. ( ie. twisting the loop tight ) Which brings me to another question: What thread size do you use? For the fly I tie I use 3/0 monocord, your thoughts would be appreciated.

[sparkleminnow]

I use monofilament thread. Danville's "fine". It equates to something like 5x tippet material. The mono thread TOTALLY disappears, so you don't have to change thread color when changing the color fly you are tying. Yes, I construct the body with a dubbing loop....NO WAX! The weight of the whirl suspended from the fly, keeps the material in place. Also, I do NOT whip finish OR glue the head....!! I finish with a double hitch. Two of them, actually. I make the dubbing loop about 10" long, and leave the 4" closest to the whirl, devoid of material. I finish the fly with the dubbing loop, itself. You CANNOT whip finish a monofilament dubbing loop, it will NOT stay in place. And, glue wicks into the body material if you try to use it. This somehow makes any body material it touches, fall off the fly!! Tried EVERYTHING. Making a double hitch with the dubbing loop is not only the best way to finish this fly, I have NEVER had one come apart doing it this way.

When I say "coarse", it's a relative term. The material was standardized to a certain denier of which I can't quite remember right now...15..., I think. Then Angler's Choice was bought out by Larva Lace, and they went to a finer denier. This means it's softer, but that's not entirely a good thing. The coarser material will stick out like a wrapped hackle, BUT lay down, progressively, as you fish it longer in the current. So...you can fish it dead drift like a bugger, and the material will stick out from the body. This will give it body motion imparted by the current. While, if you want to fish it like a streamer, the constant pressure from the current will make the material lay down, giving it a very minnow-like shape. while the finer denier material will do the same, it's also more brittle. And, it will take more material to get the fly to behave the same way. In doing so, you will also bulk the body up too much, reducing the action slightly.