LEECH: Matuka Rabbit

[John Pierce]

FLY: Leech - Matuka Rabbit

Submitted By: Dave Robinson

MATERIALS

• Hook: #6 Streamer - 3x long
• Bead: Cone head or Heavy Bead
• Weight: Lead free wire
• Thread: 6/0 Colour to suit body.
• Rib: Fine silver wire
• Tail: Rabbit Strip - Colour of choice
• Body: Chenille - Colour of choice- white if you have
• Wing: Rabbit Strip tied matuka style
• Gills: Red marabou or ostrich herl
• Hackle: Grizzly saddle

METHOD

• See simpler Bunny Leech pattern before trying this Matuka Rabbit Leech pattern, the difference is Rabbit Strip is tied over top and held on with wire.
• Called Matuka style is where add wire wraps.
• Place barrel shaped cone on hook.
• Wrap on lead free wire, extra overtop at front, snip off, and push up into cone bead.
• Tie on thread at front, and wrap down shank to curve to dress hook (so that subsequent materials will have less tendency to spin).
• Tie on silver wire along side of shank down to bend.
• Tie on medium width Rabbit Strip by finding direction of nap, measure hook length of leather, fold back upper fur to make V in fur to expose leather, tie on leather at curve. Add 2-3 thread wraps to ensure stays on top. Fold Rabbit Strip towards back out of way.
• Strip Chenille to expose string, tie on at curve in front of Rabbit Strip. Wrap Chennille up to cone head, tie off and trim off excess.
• Bring Rabbit Strip forward, pull back fur behind bead to expose leather, tie on with thread over leather and in front, clip off excess Rabbit Strip, push excess leather tab into cone head with thumb.
• With silver wire, wrap around shank up to bead, by alternately folding fur forward to expose leather, about 1/8" between wraps, to get 3-4 silver wire threads. Wrap wire in front behind bead, cut off excess.
• Use velcro popsicle tip to make fur stand out.
• Tie in Ostrich Herl around head, wrap, tie down and trim off excess.
• Tie in Grizzly Sadle stem behind bead, trim off excess stem, then wrap 2-3 times, tie off behind and in front, trim off excess.
• Whip finish twice (as difficult behind cone head) and head cement.

COMMENTS

• More of a minnow that Leech imitation. Adding some hackle at front creates more water disturbance.
• It uses a special technique to give it a proper profile.
• More steps to tie than the Bunny Leech.
• Success on San Juan River, think imitating salmon fry coming down.