Fly Tying Inventory
Fritz Leech
Fritz Leech came out of a two-year effort by Cheech to cut his many leech variations down to one simple fly. It has just a slotted bead, a marabou tail and a wrapped Jelly Fritz body, and he fishes it stripped, under an indicator or on a midge tip line. Olive is the color tied here. He also ties it in black with a chartreuse bead, and in claret or wine with a gold or metallic pink bead. It has caught picky fish for him wherever he has taken it. Tied here on a size 12 hook.
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Materials
Fulling Mill FM5125 Jig Force Short Barbless hook, size 12 (or Umpqua XC400BL-BN)
12
Semperfli Classic Waxed Threads 110m 6/0 150D, medium olive
Medium Olive · 6/0
Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads, gold, 3.2mm (or Hareline Slotted Tungsten Beads, gold, 1/8 in)
Gold · 3.2mm
Nature's Spirit Premium Bugger Bou Marabou, olive (or Fish Hunter Premium Strung Marabou, medium olive)
Olive
FNF Jelly Fritz 10 mm, pale olive (or Ice Chenille, large, olive)
Pale Olive · 10 mm
How to Tie the Fritz Leech
- 1
Step 1
Slide the slotted bead onto the jig hook, seat it behind the eye, and mount the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start the thread behind the bead and wrap a thread base back to the bend. Trim the tag end.
- 3
Step 3
Pull a bunch of olive marabou from the feather and pinch the tips to a length longer than the shank.
- 4
Step 4
Tie the marabou in at the bend for the tail. Bind the butts along the shank and trim any excess.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in the Jelly Fritz at the base of the tail and move the thread forward to just behind the bead.
- 6
Step 6
Wrap the fritz forward to the bead, stroking the fibers back with each turn.
- 7
Step 7
Tie off the fritz behind the bead and trim the excess.
- 8
Step 8
Whip finish behind the bead and trim the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE-JPJEHkYk
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food