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The Miles Davis Leech – Tying Instructions

How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Simple but effective. Photos: Stuart Foxall.

Our buddy Stuart Foxall is back again with yet another great step by step fly tying post. Today’s pattern? The Miles Davis Leech, a super effective fly for steelhead, salmon, or even big trout. Thanks Stu!

The Miles Davis Leech – Tying Instructions

The Miles Davis black leech pattern is an amazingly simple but effective pattern. It should be in every steelheader’s fly box. Particularly for swinging into that softer ‘jiggly’ water that steelhead seem to love to rest in. There really isn’t much better in these type of water conditions than a simple bunny strip pattern.. But, can we make it simpler without damaging it’s effectiveness? You bet we can.

How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 1: Start with an Owner SSW size 2 Cutting point hook. This is my favorite stinger style hook and is very strong. Tie on a strip of bunny with the fur running backwards. Don’t leave too much tail behind the hook.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 2: I have dabbed the tying in point with some super glue. This will stop it slipping and moving. Thread a loop of backing through the eye of the hook. I like braided Dacron as it’s strong but still very flexible which helps that bunny tail wriggle.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 3: Tie some dumbbell eyes onto a waddington shank (this is a 15mm shank but use what ever length you want your fly to be). I’ve used brass eyes as I want to leave this fly fairly light.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 4: Tie your braid onto the Waddington shank. I’ve placed the bunny strip there to make sure that I’ve got enough of the skin to tie in as a tail.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 5: Double over the braid and coat with super glue. This will never slip.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 6: Tie down the bunny strip as a tail.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 7: Add some fibers of blue and purple holographic Flashabou.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 8: Tie in another piece of bunny strip.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 9: Wrap the body around the Waddington shank in touching turns.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 10: Tie in a few strands of mirage Flashabou as a crest.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 11: Wrap in a black schlappen hackle to give the fly some shoulders.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 12: Tie in some steely blue ice dub on top of the fly and fold it back over itself to stop it from pulling out.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
Step 13: Dub the thread with the steely blue Ice Dub and cover the eyes with figure eight wraps. You can then tease out the dubbing to make it look shaggy. Keep in mind, you could also use a dubbing loop to achieve the same look but this is a “quick tie fly” so I typically don’t bother. Finish the fly off with a whip finish and a touch of cement.
How to tie the Miles Davis Leech Steelhead Fly.
The finished fly ready to be swung. It really can be amazingly effective. If the hook does get damaged don’t throw away the fly.. Just use a sharp blade to cut the thread away from the hook and replace the hook in the braid loop. Then, just whip some thread to attach the bunny strip back to the hook.

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