Guide Flies: Pine Squirrel Leech, Two Ways

This is probably the easiest leech to tie. A staple in my personal and guide boxes year round. In this video I'll show you two easy ways to tie this effective pattern.
Leech
Hook: TMC 5263
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 6/0
Flash: Red Flashabou or Red Holographic Flashabou
Tail/Body: Strip of Olive Pine Squirrel
Jig Leech
Hook: Fullingmill Jig Force Long #10
Bead: Fullingmill Tungsten Slotted, 3.8mm
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 6/0
Tail/Body: Black Pine Squirrel

[@richarde1355]

I first stumbled on pine squirrel strips about 20 years ago. I use crosscut squirrel for the body - creates a little trimmer leech pattern.

[@fishhandsfranky]

Love the simplicity and two tie options in one video.

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks brotha

[@charlieboutin3341]

Those are exactly how I tie them. I make some bigger ones on #4-#2 hooks with rabbit zonker, and they’re my favorite flies for largemouth bass. Thanks for all you share James! Have a great week. 👍👌🎣

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks for watching! One of the easiest and most effective flies out there for a broad range of species.

[@articchar-lf]

Question, is there a reason why you prefer squirrel to rabbit?

[@charlieboutin3341]

@@articchar-lf Good question! I always use rabbit on my bigger flies. I really like rabbit better than squirrel, I like the longer hair, I think it has a little more motion in the water. 👍

[@articchar-lf]

@@charlieboutin3341 thanks Charlie. I assume squirrel will hold a little less water with a little less motion. Gonna have to try it anyway.

[@charlieboutin3341]

@@articchar-lf You bet! It’s good material. Fish it with confidence! 🙂🎣

[@jeffcurran4111]

I have been using a leech on my euro rig for 4 years. Leech has never let me down. I tie even an easier one. Nice work

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks!

[@jstearns74]

Awesome. You are a man of your word. Great seeing you on the water last weekend. Keep up the great videos. I always learn something.

[@AboutTrout]

Pleasure meeting you! It was between this and a cooler review haha.

[@kareni1591]

Thanks for doing this video!!!

[@JustinFeltman]

Love your channel. Proud of you bro! Keep killing it

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks brotha!

[@johnhunt5856]

this fly works everywhere!!!!!

[@jimholland1592]

Hey James!! This just came up on my feed, I enjoy your content so much thanks 👍😉

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks for the support!

[@articchar-lf]

It's always leach season. Match the hatch everytime!

[@AboutTrout]

Leech Season is like the Never Ending Story. It simply doesn’t end.

[@toddslichter7831]

If you run the hook point thru the hide to create the tail, the strip lies down nicely. Both ways work and put fish in the net. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks for watching!

[@chasecook3854]

Nice flies! Just over here in the PNW smashing searun cuts with my pine squirrel dryfly streamer covered in an ounce of floatant.

[@AboutTrout]

Next level 🤯

[@neilfitch]

I laughed, I cried then I tied a fly. Can you say "this makes the fly really durable" like 10 times in your next video? 😁👍

[@blj209]

Thanks James

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks for watching!

[@cg8680]

🐿 top notch info

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks see you soon!

[@Eeland_Stribling]

This asmr is soothing

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks King 👑

[@Trutta_Fanatic]

Praise Jah

[@nicholasgallegos976]

Live your truth 👌🏼🙏🏼

[@AboutTrout]

😂

[@danm66]

Would it work to do body wire wraps to help weight it down? I try to avoid using split shot, especially when tightlining.

[@AboutTrout]

I would just use a tungsten bead. Lead wraps or even just wire don’t really add much weight.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

...Are you from Colorado?
I think I can smell the dooby you dunked right before this vid =D lol

[@coreytohme9861]

Whoa! 2 for 1 tying video. If the marabou leech and the pine squirrel leech were to get in a fight, which one would win?

[@AboutTrout]

Egg fly

[@coreytohme9861]

@@AboutTrout Sneak attack from the back. I like it.

[@Eeland_Stribling]

That’s a rhyme

[@Pianosa77]

Great fly tying instruction but Ben's pine squirrel leech video was better ;)

[@AboutTrout]

Can’t argue with that. Ben’s pine squirrel video is the greatest thing video on RUclips.

[@loosieclocker]

Nano silk is the best

[@AboutTrout]

My favorite thread

[@TJRainbowWarrior]

In the words of Mork, “Nano. Nano.”
Hope you get this reference. I’m old. 😂

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks for checking it out! Lol

[@TJRainbowWarrior]

@@AboutTrout I tied some up! I love your tying videos. You keep it simple! 👍🏼

[@PatrickJohn-x4k]

I've tied Flys like this and I think it's not a effective pattern at all ok...........

[@AboutTrout]

Have you tried fishing it better?

[@claytonballerine2280]

No dont buy pine skins they are hard to find, save them for me :) #alwaysleechseason!

[@AboutTrout]

Always leech szn brah

[@squatchy69]

What a sloppy tier