How to Tie the Fl. Sasquatch Bush Fur Leech

Tying Instructions

• 1

  Build the rear hook / trailing section

  Mount your rear Partridge hook in the vise. Start your Semperfli six aught classic waxed thread at the mid-shank and lay a smooth, tight thread base back to just above the barb. Keep wraps close — aught thread is thin and you want zero bulk at the foundation. Lock with a half-hitch before moving forward.

  Pro Tip

  Semperfli aught thread has almost no diameter. Keep your bobbin tension consistent — this thread cuts through materials fast if you let your wraps ride too hard.

• 2

  Tie in the Ewing Chickabou tail

  Select 1-2 plumes of Green Chartreuse Ewing Chickabou. Strip the base fibers and measure the tail to roughly 1.5x hook gap in length. Tie in by the stripped stems at the bend with tight thread wraps, securing the marabou-like fibers so they flow back cleanly off the hook. The Chickabou breathes on every micro-movement — don’t overly compress the stems at tie-in or you’ll kill that action. The Marabou Body makes a great collar if your fishing conditions call for one.

  Pro Tip

  Wet your fingers before handling Chickabou. It helps you stack the fibers neatly before tying in, and a wet plume is easier to control under thread pressure.

• 3

  Add the Krinkle Flash

  Cut 4–6 strands of Semperfli Fl. Green Krinkle Flash, fold them at the midpoint, and tie them in on top of and flanking the Chickabou tail. Trim so the flash extends slightly beyond the tail — not short of it, not far past it. The crinkled texture scatters light differently than flat flash; don’t over-tie it or you’ll bury the effect.

• 4

  Dub the rear body with Fl. Sasquatch Olive Bush Fur

  Wax your thread lightly and apply a thin, tapered rope of Fl. Sasquatch Olive Bush Fur. The material is spiky and fibrous — keep the rope sparse. Wrap forward in tight, overlapping turns to the mid-shank, building a segmented body that breathes without bulk. Use a velcro loop or bodkin to pick out trapped fibers after each wrap, keeping the profile alive and mobile. Whip finish and cut thread.

  Pro Tip

  Less dubbing than you think. Fl. Sasquatch Bush Fur expands in water — what looks sparse on the vise becomes a full, pulsing body in the current.

• 5

  Build the articulation connection

  Create a loop of articulation wire or heavy mono and attach it to the eye of the rear hook. The loop should be long enough to allow free swing but short enough to prevent foul-hooking on the front shank. Crimp or tie a knot to secure, then apply a drop of UV resin over the connection for durability. This hinge is the mechanical heart of the fly — take your time here.

• 6

  Mount the front hook and connect

  Mount your front Partridge hook in the vise. Thread the articulation loop through the eye and secure it at the rear of the front hook shank with tight thread wraps. Build a smooth ramp over the connection point — this prevents thread fraying and keeps the fly swimming straight. Confirm the rear hook hangs freely before proceeding.

• 7

  Dub the front body

  Continue with the dubbing brush forward Fl. Sasquatch Bush Fur body on the front shank, matching the rear body taper. The front section should be slightly fuller than the rear to give the fly a natural head-heavy swim. Advance the dubbing to within 3–4mm of the eye, leaving room for the collar and head. Pick out fibers thoroughly — this section drives the majority of the fly’s breathing movement.

• 8

  Tie the Chickabou collar

  Select 2–3 fresh Ewing Chickabou plumes. Tie in by the stem just behind the eye and wrap forward 2–3 turns, sweeping fibers back with each wrap. The collar should flare slightly, framing the head and blending into the body dubbing. Secure and advance thread to the eye.

  Pro Tip

  Stroke the fibers back with your left hand between each wrap. This keeps the collar swept rearward rather than splayed randomly, giving the head a cleaner finish.

• 9

  Finish the head and cement

  Build a small, smooth thread head with 6–8 tight wraps. Whip finish twice and trim the thread. Apply a thin coat of UV resin or head cement to the thread head — rotate the fly slowly under a UV light for a full cure. This locks down the thread wraps and adds a slight sheen that complements the Krinkle Flash on the strip.