While Leiser gets credit for popularizing the pattern it is believed Miles Tourellot, a Wisconsin Menominee Native American, originated the pattern sometime in the 1940's.
There are a few different variations of the pattern. The main two are utilizing wool vice floss for the body and/or changing out the silver tinsel for gold. However, you can also consider chenille for the body. Choosing wool for the body is an excellent choice strictly for longevity as floss tend to frays too easily. Other variations include changing body colors. The Golden Llama utilizes yellow floss for the body ribbed with gold tinsel.
When is a good time to fish the Llama? Anytime you want to fish a streamer. However, it is hard to beat fishing the Llama just prior to the spawn. There is something about the color red that drives the fish to strike this pattern hard!
My variation (below) utilizes Australian opossum vice grizzly hackle or the collar. I've been doing this for years on my steelhead Llamas simply due to the fact it was hard (at one time) to find hackle long enough to properly proportion big steelhead irons. So I have stuck with this variations on smaller patterns. The mottled effect couple with the pulsating action give the pattern a little extra when stripping through the water.
Here is the original recipe for the Llama:
Materials
Hook: Mustad 3665A sizes 4-12 (Pictured is Tiemco 9395 size 4)
Thread: UTC 70, Black (Use white if you intend to utilize floss for the body without an underbody of tinsel.)
Tail: Grizzly, hen (soft)
Body, Red floss, wool or chenille (Wool pictured,)
Ribbing: Lagartun, silver, five turns (Medium size pictured.)
Wing: Woodchuck. Leave underfur in place.
Collar: Grizzly, hen (soft) You can also utilize Australian opossum (pictured) or rabbit (chinchilla).
Head: Originally built up and eyes painted on.
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