LeechBalanced Blank Saver - Midnight Fire
The Balanced Blank Saver - Midnight Fire from Fly Fish Food combines the effective balanced fly design with the popular midnight fire color scheme. This pattern hangs horizontally in the water column when fished under an indicator, presenting a natural leech profile that trout find irresistible. The midnight fire colors provide excellent attraction while maintaining a natural appearance.
Year Round
Advanced
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
This Fly Fish Food pattern showcases the balanced fly technique popularized by Jerry McBride. The use of a pin extended off the hook shank allows the fly to hang horizontally in the water, mimicking the natural posture of a swimming leech. The midnight fire color scheme, originally shown as a chenille color by Dennis Brakke, has proven effective for stillwater trout.
Materials
Hook: Daiichi 4660, #6-10
Thread: UTC 140D, black
Pin: Sewing/upholstery pin, size 17
Bead: Tungsten bead, 1/8", black nickel
Tail: Marabou, black with Krystal Flash, black
Body: Midnight Fire Ice Dub and Black Simi Seal Dub (waxed dubbing loop)
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Leeches suspend horizontally in the water column with gentle undulations, bodies elongating and contracting. They pause frequently in motionless hangs before resuming rhythmic pulsing movements between vegetation and open water.
Where Trout Eat It: Trout intercept this pattern in mid-water zones of reservoirs where the pin-balanced design suspends horizontally at cruising depth. Fish patrol drop-offs at 7-15 feet as the midnight fire dubbing creates subtle flash without alarming wary cruisers.
How to Fish It: Suspend under adjustable indicator 4-6 feet above the leech, allowing wave action to provide jigging motion. Retrieve with slow 2-3 inch pulsing strips mimicking undulating leech swimming. The pin maintains horizontal posture during critical pauses when strikes occur.
Best Water: Concentrate on drop-offs where shoals transition to deeper water at Strawberry Reservoir. The balanced design excels over shelf structures and along channel edges where trout cruise looking up at horizontally-suspended prey silhouettes between 7-15 feet.
Strike Type: Feel for solid weight and steady pressure during pauses—fish grip the fly and swim deliberately away.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 12-15 foot leader with 5X-6X fluorocarbon tippet under an adjustable strike indicator. Set depth to match where fish are cruising and adjust throughout the day as fish move.
Seasonal Timing: lake effectiveness with peak performance during periods when trout actively feed on leeches. The balanced presentation works particularly well during challenging conditions.
Pro Tips: The midnight fire Ice Dub provides subtle flash that attracts fish without alarming them. The black nickel bead and black materials create a distinct silhouette visible to fish from below.
Entomology
Leeches suspend in the water column with gentle swimming undulations, their bodies elongating and contracting as they navigate between vegetation and open water. They pause frequently in horizontal postures, hanging motionless before resuming their rhythmic pulsing movements. Fish consume leeches readily because these blood-feeding invertebrates are rich in nutrients, move slowly enough for easy capture, and their dark silhouettes stand out visually against lighter backgrounds in lakes and ponds.
- Organism Type
- leech
- Life Stage
- general