Beadhead Polar Chenille Leech
Beadhead Polar Chenille Leech
This Rob Weiker (Lakestream Fly Shop) streamer fly pattern is a modern version of the mohair leech.  Designed to keep things simple, the Beadhead Polar Chenille Leech is about as simple as it gets while still giving the fly lots of movement. Also, this pattern, when wet, has a great leech or baitfish profile.

Tying this fly on a 3X long shank hook gives it a good silhouette without having to use a huge hook.  To modify the sink rate, the tier can upsize or downsize the size of the bead depending on the size hook. If you are fishing this pattern in the spring or fall, try tying it with a florescent egg coloured bead to imitate an egg stealing leech or baitfish.

Effective color variations of this fly include black, olive, yellow/brown mix, clear, UV pearl, UV gold and UV rusty copper.

Materials
Hook: TMC 5263 - size 6
Thread: UTC 140 – olive brown
Weight 1: Brass bead - 5/32” black
Weight 2: 0.025 lead wire
Tail: Polar chenille – UV olive brown
Body: Polar chenille – UV olive brown
Adhesive: Solarez ultra thin bone dry

Tying Instructions
Step 1. Pinch down the barb and slide the bead onto the hook.
Step 2. Insert the hook in the vise. Make 10 wraps of 0.025 lead wire around the hook shank. Push the lead wraps up the shank so that they butt up against the bead.
Step 3. Attach the thread behind the lead wire wraps and wrap forward over the wire securing it tightly. Then wrap back to the hook bend, laying down a solid thread base.
Step 4. Tie in a long piece of polar chenille with a hook shank length extending off the back of the hook. Make 3 to 4 thread wraps at the bend of the hook, binding down the UV chenille tail. Remember, polar chenille fibers are directional.
Step 5.  Return wrap the thread to the point behind the beadhead. Palmer wrap the polar chenille up the hook shank in touching spirals and tie off behind the beadhead. Try not to trap any of the fibers as you wrap the polar chenille.
Step 6. Whip finish behind the beadhead and apply Solarez ultra thin bone dry to the thread collar wraps. If needed, you can stop the end of the tail unravelling by giving it a quick melt in the flame of a lighter.
Your Beadhead Polar Chenille Leech is now complete and you are ready to head out On The Water!

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