Leaches

[Murdoc]

When someone says a Black Leach It can mean about anything is what I've seen. Can someone tell me what is the best leach recipe for Tanycomo??

[Roaring River Veteran]

Murdoc,

I too have seen several types of leaches. I know many people like to make them look like a woolie without hackle, but I like the cross cut rabbit hair leaches. I don't know that one works better than the other, I think it is preference and what you have confidence in. JMO.

Good Luck and Good Fishing

RRV

[Greg]

I think most people in MO would be referring to the mohair leech. It's a pretty good pattern. The link is below:

http://www.missouritrout.com/mikesmohairleech.htm

Greg

[Jeremy Hunt]

That is true about the leech, most patterns that are leech patterns, there will be mohair involved.

A leech pattern can really be any fly that is a streamer type fly that is fished in the middle of the water column. Wooly's do the same thing that a leech is suppose to imitate. Some people like to fish these with a sinking line and fishing them close to the bottom. They both are effective ways to catch trout.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Our old Missouri field reporter Mike Kruse was able to move on to TU greener pasture's...

But back in the day - he gave a presentation and told us all - the leech is the perfect fly to fish in Taneycomo.

His Mohair leech is famous in these parts - And for good reason

You cannot tie it wrong. Wrap it up on a hook and go.

I forgot - Also - smash down the barb.

[fishinwrench]

On 1/23/2022 at 10:02 AM, Brian Shaffer said:

You cannot tie it wrong. Wrap it up on a hook and go.

Actually that would be tying it wrong. 

Mohair yarn has no stretch, so simply wrapping it up the shank will result in it slipping down the shank, over the Marabou tail, and then halfway around the bend.....once it gets wet and relaxes. 

Here's an old video that has a few helpful tips on tying a decent MHL 

 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I don't like beads if I can get by without them.  I wrap the whole shank with lead wire.  No problem with the hair sliding and the fly stays "flatter" in the water too.  Nice tie though, thx.