Here is the fly pattern sheet for the Pumpkin Head Leech.
Materials
Hook:
Daiichi 1260, #8 – 14
Bead:
Orange
Thread:
Olive or fluorescent chartreuse
Tail:
Medium olive marabou
Rib:
Wire or monofilament (optional)
Body:
Olive hare’s ear and olive Ice Dub or Hareline’s Krystal Dub Olive
Hackle:
Burnt orange grizzly saddle hackle
Directions:
- Slide bead on hook and start thread on hook at bead. Make several wraps to create small taper.
- Pull 3/4 to 1 inch of marabou fibers off plume for tail. Trim marabou butts even and tie in immediately behind bead and wrap towards bead to fill hole. Hold marabou at 45 degree angle above hook to keep materials on top of hook. Continue to wrap thread to barb and place 2 wraps under tail to hold tail up.
- Tear marabou fibers to form tail, about length of body.
- Kent prepares hackle by holding shinney side out and stripping left side. The result is barbules on one side of the stem.
- Tie in hackle at tail by butt end.
- Dub body.
- Wrap hackle forward using 4 wraps and end with 3 wraps immediately behind eye. Tie off hackle and trim.
- Add a small amount of dubbing to create head.
- Whip finish and trim thread.
Notes:
- Kent doesn’t counter-rib the fly. He creates a thicker body and pulls stem into body.
- Kent prefers to “tear” the marabou to length but recognizes some tyers prefer the marabou tips. He prefers his method of selecting “fluffy” vs “stringy” fibers.
Here is a YouTube video of John Kent tying his fly.
For more information, read my Throw Back Thursday Fly post.