Crystal Leech - Todd Manz

HOOK:

Mustad 33960 Streamer Hook, #4 - #12 (Any Long Shank Streamer Hook)

THREAD:

Black.

TAIL:

Marabou Feathers, Make it Bushy.(Black, Olive, Natural)

BODY:

Palmered Marabou Feathers (Same color as tail)

You can also use 4 strands of peacock herl.

A fine gold or silver wire can be added to strengthen and add more weight to fly.

WINGS:

First 2-3 strands of tinsel folded over

More marabou (Same color as tail and body)

HEAD:

Finish with Black thread.

Alternate: More peacock herl, then finish with thread.

Move the fly slowly with medium to long sized jerks of the line. Very effective in slack waters of spring creeks, sloughs, ponds and lakes (One of my favorites at Diefenbaker). Work the fly along the bottom with slow, short jerks and letting it drift down to the fish. Excellent all around wet fly. Used year round.

Attach the marabou at the back of the hook so that it sits straight back or slightly pointed upwards of the shank of the hook (adds more action). Tie in only a small amount of marabou or peacock herl to form the body of the fly, remember, you are imitating a leech and they are fairly thin. Once you have wrapped about 3/4 of the shank of the hook, tie it off. Take your tinsel. You want enough so that the tips line up with the tips of your marabou tail tie it down to the top of the hook, fold it over and wrap in. This is why you only want 2-3 strands, because when you fold it over you now have 4-6 strands. Tie in another bunch of marabou on top of the tinsel and then finish your head. If you were going to tie some peacock herl to the head you would do this before finishing off the head.

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