River Leech, Purple Originated and Tied By Paul Smith Name River Leech Category Pacific Salmon Thread 6/0 Color to Match Hook Gamakatsu B-10S, Size 1/0 to 2/0, Weighted with .025 Lead, 20-25 Turns Trailing Hook Gamakatsu Octopus #6 Tail Krystal Flash; Marabou Plume, Palmered, Color to Match Body Cactus Chenille - Color to Match Hackle Color to Match Wing Rabbit Zonker Strip - Color to Match Head Hot Glue Egg

River Leech was originated and tied by Contributing Fly Tyer, Paul Smith. See his notes about tying the trailer hook below.

Paul Smith Notes: "I've been asked how I tie stinger or trailer hooks. When I was developing the Christopher River King fly I wanted to have an egg trailer. Most of the time when you're fishing for salmon there's also rainbow trout around (the River King has taken trout). To have an egg trailer, I had to attach it to the hook. Tying it to the front shouldn't be that hard but I found out there was a little more to it. I have a Koi pond in my back yard so I started experimenting. First I thought if I want to catch trout I would need a small diameter mono so I tried 10# fluorocarbon. It would hang down and fowl in the front hook. I tried 20#, it was better but would still hang up some. I tried 30# mono and this seemed to work real well, so maybe 40# would be better, but you could hardly tie a size 4 hook on, very big knot. So 30# mono is just right! You would think you could just tie it on . I found that you needed to lay down a layer of thread so the mono doesn't roll around the hook . You need your mono to come straight off the top of the hook . I make the mono nearly the length of the hook. Wrap a layer of thread over the mono, if you want you can put a little zap-a-gap on, but I don't think it's necessary. Next step, put your lead wrap over the mono. This process is a little time consuming but if you're just doing some for yourself times no big deal. If you tie a 100 at a time it adds quite a lot of time. If you use a good quality hook it also adds to the finish cost of the fly. I also tie trailer hooks on the River Bunny and the River Leech, seen here. They are a much shorter trailer because there's no egg. These flies are a little longer and it helps them track better and if nothing else they will get those short strikers. As a last bit of information, this years trip to Alaska for Silvers, about 4 out of 10 fish caught on the Christopher River King were caught on the egg trailer. Just another reason why I love this fly !!!"

You can see more flies in the River Leech Series and more flies designed and tied by Paul Smith at The Flies of Paul Smith..