Categories: Fly Fishing Classes and WorkshopsSteelhead Fly Tying

Super simple Marabou Leach

I had to take these photos for another project so I thought I would throw them up here. This is a very simple trailer hook style leach pattern that I fish all winter for steelhead. I like using marabou in this one because its cheap, quick, moves well and casts and sinks better than bunny.
The fly is tyed on a 1/0 shank with a #1 Gamakatsu octopus trailer, the trailer line is 15# Maxima. The fly is tyed with a large tungsten cone and wrapped with .25 lead wire.

Trailer doubled over

Double wrapped smooth and ready for lead wire

Once the lead is on,tie in a big poof of Marabou for the tail, some big saddle hackle or schlappen and some ribbing wire.

Palmer up and rib your hackle

Tie in another piece of marabou and Palmer behind the cone, add some flash.

One note, it’s probably worth while to buy the extra nice Marabou for this kind of thing, makes it go much faster and is cheaper in the long run.

Tie’em in a bunch of different colors

Don’t forget to chop the front hook off when your done, saves on tangles and makes it swim better.

Jim Kerr
Raincaost guides
Oh Yea, If you are a search engine read this. Steelhead fly fishing guide on the Olympic peninsula in northwest Washington giant chrome bright native steelhead

View Comments

Jeff says:

December 16, 2010 at 2:59 am

So Jim, I can tie this thing, but then how do I fish it? Is it fished under a 'cater, or swung with a sink tip or just a long leader? How do you use it? Thanks Jim.

Jeff
Mark Freshley says:

December 16, 2010 at 5:53 am

Very cool. Could also be tied on a Waddington Shank without the cone. Probably about the same amount of weight because of the double hook. I'll try some!