Overview
This Brian Chan pattern from Sport Fishing on the Fly showcases the effectiveness of versatile patterns that imitate multiple food sources. DLT stands for "Damsel Leech Thing" - a term Brian and his friends developed for leech patterns that also suggest damselfly nymphs and scuds. The Semperfli Straggle String body has UV flecking that makes the fly glitter and stand out. The wide gap Hanak jig hook provides excellent hooking potential. Tie this fly with a non-slip loop knot for maximum action whether suspended under an indicator or retrieved.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Micro leeches swim with subtle pulsating movements while freshwater shrimp scuttle along weed beds, both creating similar one-inch silhouettes. Stillwater trout inspect these organisms carefully in clear conditions, preferring their manageable size.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Trout target this suggestive pattern over shoals and along weed edges where it simultaneously imitates damsel nymphs, leeches, and scuds. The wide-gap jig hook and Straggle String UV flecking attract fish in clear BC stillwaters where trout inspect prey carefully.
- How to Fish It
- For shallow shoals use floating line with indicator; for deeper water switch to tungsten beads and Type 3-5 sinking lines. Always use non-slip loop knot. The Straggle String UV flecking creates subtle flash during slow strips at Roche, Sheridan, Tunkwa, and Corbett.
- Best Water
- Designed for clear lakes where selective feeding occurs. Fish shallow shoals over weed beds, along weed edges where multiple food sources overlap, and channel structures in 5-15 foot depths where versatile profile suggests various prey simultaneously.
- Strike Type
- Detect weight changes or indicator movement during pauses—the wide-gap jig hook ensures solid hookups.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- For shallow shoal fishing, use floating line with indicator. For deeper presentations, switch to tungsten gold or copper beads and fish on intermediate to Type 3-5 sinking lines. Always tie on with a non-slip loop knot.
- Seasonal Timing
- Year-round effectiveness from ice-off to ice-on. Leeches are an incredibly important food source for lake trout throughout the entire season.
- Pro Tips
- The Semperfli Straggle String body has UV flecking that creates glitter and helps the fly stand out. The MFC Bugger Boo tail provides excellent movement.
Entomology
Micro leeches swim with subtle, pulsating movements while freshwater shrimp scuttle along weed beds, both creating similar silhouettes in the 1-2 inch size range. Stillwater trout feed selectively on these organisms in clear conditions where they can carefully inspect prey, preferring their manageable size and predictable movement patterns.
- Organism
- leech
- Life stage
- general
Pattern details
- Stillwater
- British Columbia
- Pacific Northwest
- active-retrieve
- strip-retrieve
- guide-fly
- searching-pattern
- low-clear-water