In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, world renowned guide Alvin Dedeaux ties one of his favorite guide flies for bass, the Bunny Leech.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
With Spring in full swing and temperatures heating up, there should be a genus in the back of every anglers mind, black bass. Whether that be small or largemouth, these fish will obliterate flies of nearly any size and design. Bass should never be snubbed, as they present countless opportunities for anglers to entertain themselves and keep lines tight during the true dog days of Summer. Although chasing these fish on topwater is some of the most fun you can have on fly, the Bunny Leech is a streamer pattern that will keep your rod bent and smiles aplenty on the water.
Like many flies in this series, this one is as simple as it gets and attainable by even the most novice of tyers. If you want to get into tying streamers, starting with this pattern is a full proof way to get practice while not wasting materials. Mistakes made while tying this fly can be fixed by simply unwinding the zonker strips used for the body, then rewrapping for perfection. Tying the Bunny Leech in several sizes and colors won’t take hours, but will last many days while you are on the hunt for these explosive killers.
You’ll find that most bass fishing can be accomplished with an 8 weight and floating line setup. For weightless patterns, using an intermediate or sinking line could be beneficial depending on water depth and the structure you are targeting. Do not be discouraged if you break a few of these off, bass will congregate around structure so it is natural to fish close and get snagged every now and again. The Bunny Leech will be your safety net for slow days on the water this Summer and might just rise in the ranks to your best friend after a few outings.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook Fly Hook – NS Black: Size 1
- Body: Hareline Rabbit 1/8″ Zonker Strips – Chartreuse Green
- Thread: Veevus Power Thread: Fluorescent Chartreuse – 140 Denier
Now you know how to tie the Bunny Leech!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Alvin Dedeaux.
