Articulated Leech

This is a relatively new leech pattern and I haven't gotten time to fish it much, but its been in the water and it looks good. It has three segments that make up the body of the fly and it moves super well. It keeps its tapered profile in the water. You can use a sharpie to color the thread used black or you could just use black thread, but to make it easier to see the placement of the thread wraps I used a brighter color.

Materials: Cross-Cut Rabbit Fur, Rabbit Strip, Marabou, Dumbbell Eyes, Tube-Fly Tube.
Tools: Vise, Scissors, Bobbin, Tube-Fly Tube Holder.
Hook: Size 2 daiichi, Articulated Shank from the fisherman co. (if you don't have articulated shanks, use a hook shank that is roughly 2" long).

If you don't have a tube fly holder for your vise you can use another hook shank or make two segments. If you don't have tubes used for tube flies, you can use the tube on a plastic Q-Tip that are available at any convenience store.

Step 1: tie in the rabbit strip on the back hook. Tie in so that it is tied down in the back and the front (two places) of the hook shank.

Step 2: Do a loop connection with braid on the back hook. Attach the tube fly tube holder with a tube on it. Start a thread base and tie down the the rabbit strip to the back of the tube. Leave about 1/8" of space between the tube and hook.

Step 3: Dub the body of the tube.

Step 4: Tie down the rabbit strip in front of the dubbing. Whip finish and apply head cement.

Step 5: Feed the two ends of the braid through the tube.

Step 6: Tie in dumbbell eyes on the underside of a hook shank. Tie down the braid securely just as you would a stinger hook. Tie down the end of the rabbit strip on the back of the front hook shank.

Step 7: Tie in a piece of cross cut rabbit fur. Wrap the rabbit fur up the body and tie off just under 1/2" behind the dumbbell eyes. Tie in a marabou feather.

Step 8: Palmer the marabou around the hook shank in front of the rabbit fur creating a collar. Spin a dubbing loop in front of the marabou collar using rabbit fur.

Step 9: wrap the dubbing loop with rabbit fur behind, over top, and in front of the dumbbell eyes. Once the desired profile of the head is reached tie off the dubbing loop and clip any extra thread that was left over from the dubbing loop. Whip finish and apply head cement.