Leech

SIZE: 30-100 mm (1/3-16 to 4 in), typical

COLOR: Tans, browns, olives, black

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS: Changes shape while swimming

About Leeches

Leeches are segmented worms that live in lakes and slow portions of some rivers. They are good swimmers, travelling with a snake-like up-and-down motion. While they grow up to six inches in length, most leeches are under four inches, and trout feed primarily on those that are about two inches long.

A leech is a good meal for a fish, so a well-presented imitation can be attacked agressively in almost any month of the year. Unfortunately, leeches are primarily nocturnal. If you're wacky enough to fish a lake at night (and you're at a place where that is allowed), a leech is a good pattern to tie on. Dawn, dusk, and cloudy days are other good times for a leech pattern.

Leeches can move quite fast when they are pursued, so some anglers fish them at high speed on the theory that a trout will think another trout is after the leech, which will trigger a greed-based aggressive reaction. Sometimes though, this presentation will only spook the trout.

Articles About Leeches

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Put Your Flies on a Diet Many fly patterns are simply too fat. Here's some tips for keeping your flies skinny and naturaly looking. Jeff Morgan

Leather Leeches These two simple patterns mimic the appearance and action of real leeches. Hint: they don't look anything like a Woolly Bugger! Jeff Morgan

STAGE

PATTERN

SIZE/
COLOR

PRESENTATION

WHERE

Adult

Bunny Leech, Krystal Bugger, Mini Leech, Mohair Leech, Rabbit Strip Leech, Woolly Bugger

2-10/Black, browns, olives

Count-down-and-retrieve, Slow retrieve, Wind drift

Lakes; backwaters and slow sections of rivers