Landon Mayer's Mini-Leech

Detailed instructions for tying Landon Mayer's Mini-Leech.
Recipe:
Hook: Czech nymph hook (here a Fulling Mill 35065), size 14.
Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Underbody: Brown Holo Tinsel, medium.
Rear Body: Brown Zonked Pine Squirrel.
Front body: Black Ostrich herl.
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[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

The camera work in this one is simply amazing! I know I wouldnt complain if you just started over with all of your tying videos and updated any necessary with updated materials and methods, Nothing wrong with the old ones, I just love to start my morning with a good pattern to mimic.

[@sangredecase]

Love this pattern, the only difference in what I've consistently tied for years is that I just use more pine squirrel for the hackle. It all comes together in the water and has amazing movement. Great for stripping or bottom bouncing.

[@ramshackleproductions7908]

I had been planning to tie these and then here comes another excellent video from Tim. I used a jig hook with different sizes of black tungsten slotted beads. Seated the hide of the squirrel strip right up against the bead, helped keep the bead in-place. Looking forward to fishing these, and in the meantime the next tightline video.

[@SiuslawOR]

Extremely well filmed and explained 👍👍👍

[@jimslade]

Excellent camera work on the herl thanx

[@RushVoorhisOutdoors]

your voice overs are on point! you make the video so engaging! nice man

[@hankvana2149]

Thanks for sharing Tim! Looks like a real winner - minimum materials and fast to tie - slow drop and lots of movement, should be great for panfish in still water!

[@awesomeabsol]

Went to a TU event with Landon. The amount of 24+" fish he showed with this thing hanging out of their mouths was ridiculous. He knows what he's doing

[@markmemmott3608]

This is a great pattern. I tie a version with a tungston bead and seal dubbing instead of the ostrich herle.

[@CrazzyOntarian]

I found this after hearing about this pattern and am super stoked as I actually bought some pine squirrel zonker out of my local shops clearance bin a while ago and havent known what to do with it

[@t_man785]

I love this fly it has the best of both worlds it’s fun to tie and is fun to fish but most importantly catches fish

[@MrBlazeHernandez]

New favorite, thanks.

[@matthewgallant1301]

Great fly! Thank you! Can I use regular hackle as a substitute for the ostrich herl?

[@slickydicky]

I just tied two. But mine where with orange tiger over yellow barred rabbit zonker strips, and fluorescent orange thread. I dont currently have any tinsel or ostrich hear but I used the rabbit fur I stripped and made a dubbing loop to form the body. I used 3-4 wraps or .02 lead wire and a 3/32 brass bead on one... I'll give the cement a couple of hours to dry then it's off to the creek to see how they fair against the local smallmouth population

[@jj-ve9wy]

Tim, thanks for sharing, I really enjoy all of your videos. I also use Sally Hanson on many of my flyes , but sometimes worry about the smell spooking fish. Do you think I’m chewing on this a bit to much ?? Tight lines

[@willyboyw.5771]

My ostrich herl was about 1/3 of the length of these black ones.

[@militarist7777]

Круто получилось.

[@philstevens6934]

I do not know where this gentleman got his ostrich herl, but when I tied with what I have in my box the herl was really really short. Not long and bushy like the video. Also, I cannot imagine trying to tie this with a size 14 hook. Even with my small hands I had to go up to a 12. I found the tinsel difficult to wrap given that it is so narrow and the hook point and bobbin were constantly getting in the way. Maybe it will look better with more attempts. As I stated, I am really disappointed in how the herl looks.

[@phineartz]

Phil Stevens I also find ostrich herl to be a highly variable material, and a lot of what I see just seems puny and short -ok for sowbugs and not much else.. I’ve recently discovered that I can use a chip clip to do Marc Pettijean style “dubbing loops” with the squirrel hair itself, creating a low bulk hair collar that looks very similar to this herl collar. It also works great with marabou or any feather where you don’t need the barbule length or the stem bulk.. just capture the feather or fur with the chip clip, cut out the stem or hide, slip into your loop and spin it up. The applications are endless once you get the hang of it, hope that helps..

[@philstevens6934]

@@phineartz many thanks for the suggestions. I a going to try using some of the pheasant cape I have instead of the ostrich. I use it for my tenkara flies and I like the way it flares.

[@ripig111]

I had the same problem with herl. Most of what I get locally is too short for this pattern, although occasionally I'll get a feather with significantly longer fibers, like the one shown in the video. But today I received some Veniard Half Plumes that have very long fibers. I recommend you try them. Unfortunately, they are not commonly available in the U.S. I ordered mine from flymart.ca in Canada (www.flymart.ca/product.aspx?product_id=1788&name=Veniard-Ostrich-Herl-half-plume)

[@philstevens6934]

@@ripig111 thank you very much for the recommendation. I ordered the half plumes you suggested, unfortunately they turned out to be no better that than what I found locally. I think the fly will fish well, but still disappointed in that the video really does not provide either of us with enough information to find an alternate type of feather.

[@rickconyers5873]

As tied, do you typically add shot to your Tippett to get them down or use sink tip line and fluoro leader?

[@tightlinevideo]

I like to fish these on a dead drift, swung just a bit at the end of the drift. I usually fish them in tandem rig with a heavy nymph to get everything down close to the bottom quickly.

[@rickconyers5873]

@@tightlinevideo Thanks for the reply! I have subscribed to your channel for sometime and you are there still the most clear, concise and succinct speaker out there. Your common sense approach is most appreciated! If you’re ever in Arkansas and want to test our waters, give me a shout. Merry Christmas!

[@deanfromtrapline53-colwell61]

How wide are the zonker strips ? Love your video's, keep up the awesome work !!

[@t_man785]

Dean Fillion pine squirrel is a thinner diameter hide than normal rabbit I’m not sure of the exact dimensions though.

[@sicgloryfades9]

Is there anything I can use as a substitute for the ostrich herl?

[@kylebaird2488]

i cant help but feel the head cement would do more if you put it in after you tied in the herl, but before wrapping. but that's just me

[@Kab_On_The_Fly]

Hey Tim, where did you get that applicator bottle?

[@Habaneroranger]

Order from orvis. You can get them empty or filled. I get empty ones and then fill with sally h

[@salifmahamane9780]

Where do you get the special nozzle for your Sally Hansen's?

[@slickydicky]

That looks like it's just a generic "applicator bottle" wherever you buy materials should have them and for relatively cheap.

[@christophercook723]

The London Mayor is a leech!