LeechChan's Magic Brown Leech
Chan's Magic Brown Leech is Brian Chan's most productive leech pattern, demonstrated here tied on Sheridan Lake by Don Freschi. This pattern combines the translucent properties of Arizona Simi Seal dubbing with a magic bead head to create an incredibly effective stillwater leech that has proven effective on BC Interior lakes.
Year Round
Intermediate
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
This Sport Fishing on the Fly tutorial demonstrates Brian Chan's signature leech pattern. The magic bead head adds subtle attraction while the Arizona Simi Seal dubbing creates the translucent, buggy appearance that stillwater trout find irresistible. The copper wire rib adds durability and segmentation to the body.
Materials
Hook: 3X Long Curved Nymph, #12
Thread: 8/0, brown or olive
Bead: Magic Bead, 7/64", brown
Tail: Marabou, dark brown
Body: Arizona Simi Seal Dubbing, brown brick
Rib: Copper wire, red
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Leeches swim with purposeful undulating strokes, often silhouetted against lighter substrates while moving between vegetation and open water.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish cruise throughout the water column in lakes, intercepting leeches along weed edges, drop-offs, and shoals.
How to Fish It: Fish under indicator at various depths or with slow strips on sinking lines. Magic bead and Simi Seal create natural movement.
Best Water: Focus on weed edges where leeches feed, drop-offs along structure, and shoals where trout patrol for prey.
Strike Type: Steady pull-down or gradual line draw as fish swim away. Set with firm strip to drive the hook.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 12-15 foot leader with 5X-6X fluorocarbon tippet under a sensitive strike indicator. The magic bead provides adequate weight for proper presentation at various depths.
Seasonal Timing: effectiveness in BC Interior lakes and similar lake environments. Particularly effective on Sheridan Lake and other productive BC stillwaters.
Pro Tips: The brown brick Simi Seal creates a translucent, natural profile while the magic bead adds subtle flash and attraction. The copper wire rib adds segmentation and durability.
Entomology
Brown leeches navigate through stillwater environments with purposeful swimming strokes, often silhouetted against lighter substrates as they move from vegetated areas to open water. Trout encounter these leeches throughout the season and learn to recognize their translucent bodies and persistent swimming motion as reliable food sources.
- Organism Type
- leech
- Life Stage
- general