Down & Dirty Leech—Layered

The spinning loop can be used in a large variety of ways to yield different appearances in the finished fly. One of these is the layering technique. With this tactic, the tyer can build a fly with as many layers as needed, each following in sequence along the length of the hook shank.

In the example below, I’ve used two layers, one white and one black, to make then readily distinguishable.

Step 1. Attach the thread and make a spinning loop. Then insert the fibers into the loop in the desired sequence, with the color closest to the hook eye being inserted last.

Step One. Insert the materials in the desired sequence with the color closest to the eye being inserted last.

Step One. Insert the materials in the desired sequence with the color closest to the eye being inserted last.

Step Two. Spin the loop tight and tease the fibers out into a 3-D hackle.

Step Two. The 3-D hackle ready to wrap.

Step Two. The 3-D hackle ready to wrap.

Step Three. Wrap the material forward, remembering to stroke the fibers back after each turn to prevent trapping them under the next turn.

Step Three. Wind the materials forward, tie off, and form the head.

Step Three. Wind the materials forward, tie off, and form the head.