Micro Jig Leech- Landon Mayer

Landon Mayer's Mini Leech is one outstanding fly pattern that certainly catches its share of trout! Landon's Mini Leech's basic design has not changed a lot but the hooks they are tied on have. The use of jig hooks and Czech Nymph hooks has made this great little fly even better! Landon believed that trout feed a lot on leeches that are approximately 3/4 of an inch in length even though we often see leeches that are 3 inches or more long in the lakes and rivers we fly fish!

My one grandson, Oliver, had an afternoon and evening at Maligne Lake using the above fly where he caught several sizeable trout!

Pine squirrel is an excellent tail material and ostrich is an excellent collar. There are times that I do tie a collar that is quite similar to John Barr's-Slumpbuster. I will trim off the skin on a pine squirrel zonker strip then put the fibres in a dubbing loop, spin them up and make a collar. Take a look at the last fly in this post! The colour combination are endless!

Landon Myer's Mini Jig Leech

Hooks: Jig hooks sizes 12-16-in this pictures I have used Pro-Tyer Hooks

Bead: Tungsten Head Turner Beads or Slotted Beads

Tail: Pine Squirrel

Body: Holographic Tinsel

Collar: Ostrich herl

 

A Tribute to My Friend-Gerald Ng

My friend Gerald Ng passed away yesterday. Gerald lived in California. He was a passionate fly fisher and more importantly, he was a kind man with a big heart. I always enjoyed sharing my boat with Gerald and during COVID, he often joined in on our tying sessions for the Central Alberta Fly Tying Club. I do remember that he once took in a fly tying session by setting up his computer in the garden shed so he would not disturb anyone. Gerald always enjoyed being on the water. I do remember one particular day at Patterson Lake in Manitoba when Gerald landed 5 big brown trout in an afternoon! I often think back on that afternoon! Gerald loved his days on the water. He was less concerned about catching lots of fish. He just enjoyed being on the water with his fly rod! I also remember Gerald tying a box of flies for our mutual friend, Richard in Manitoba. I think the box of flies was taken from Richard's truck. Gerald then, tied up more flies to replace them. He was a very caring person. I am going to miss Gerald. 

 

Tokaryk Special 2.0 Tied Up as a Micro Balanced Leech

Happy Boxing Day Everyone! I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas! I have settled into some fly tying. My son-in-law asked me about tying up some Tokaryk Specials to help him fill in a big gap in his fly box! I agreed to help him out and it got me thinking about how productive this fly has been. My son-in-law wanted the Tokaryks to be tied small like a micro leech. It is definitely an excellent pattern. Below I am using tungsten head turner beads and pine squirrel for the tail instead of marabou! You definitely want some slots in your lake fly box for these flies. 

Tokaryk Special 2.0

Hook: Size 12-14 jig hook (my go to size is size 12)

Thread: Red, 8/0

Bead: 7/64ths Tungsten Head Turner Bead for size 12, 3/32nd for size 14

Tail: Pine Squirrel, black

Body: Hares Ear Ice Dub Peacock or just Peacock Ice Dub or olive brill

Tying Note: Put Head Turner Bead on with concave side to eye of the hook!

Tie in Pine Squirrel or marabou

Make a Dubbing loop then insert dubbing,  spin it up!

Wrap dubbing up to bead, and whip finish!