LeechMicro Egg Sucking Leech
The Micro Egg Sucking Leech is Tim Flagler's downsized take on the classic egg sucking leech pattern, designed for pressured fish and technical waters. Featured in Fly Tyer Magazine, this pattern combines elements from Landon Mayer's Mini Leech, Pat's Rubber Legs, basic egg patterns, and Frenchie designs into a compact, fish-catching fly. The fluorescent orange bead and collar create a highly visible hot spot while the Ultra Dry Yarn body provides subtle movement and translucency.
Fall, Winter, Spring
Intermediate
Trout, Steelhead
Dec 2025
Overview
This tightlinevideo pattern by Tim Flagler demonstrates how classic patterns can be reimagined in micro sizes for pressured fish. The Ultra Dry Yarn provides translucency and slight buoyancy while creating the variegated coffee-and-black appearance characteristic of egg sucking patterns. The fluorescent orange components serve as attractor points that can trigger strikes from fish conditioned to feed on eggs. The jig hook design allows the fly to ride point-up for reduced snags.
Materials
Hook: Fulling Mill 5125 Jig Force Short, black nickel, #18
Thread: UTC 70 Denier, fluorescent fire orange
Bead: Slotted tungsten bead, 3/32", fluorescent orange
Tail: Fulling Mill Ultra Dry Yarn, black and brown dun
Body: Fulling Mill Ultra Dry Yarn, black and brown dun
Collar: Fulling Mill Tactical Microflash Dub UV, hot orange
Cement: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Leeches near spawning redds consume dislodged eggs, their dark bodies showing bright orange egg material through semi-transparent digestive tracts. Trout target these egg-laden leeches as double-value prey combining leech protein with egg calories.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish holding near spawning gravels intercept leeches drifting through runs and tail-outs adjacent to redds. Soft water near spawning activity concentrates both eggs and opportunistic leeches.
How to Fish It: Euro nymphing or indicator rigs bounce the compact fly along bottom through spawning zones. The tungsten bead and jig hook maintain bottom contact through technical water.
Best Water: Target tail-outs below spawning gravels, runs adjacent to redds, and soft pockets near active spawning where egg-feeding leeches drift.
Strike Type: Subtle ticks or sighter movements signal takes requiring quick responses to connect small hooks.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on euro nymphing rig or 9-12 foot leader with 5X-6X fluorocarbon tippet. The small tungsten bead provides adequate weight for maintaining contact with the bottom. Works well as point fly with smaller nymphs as droppers.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during , , and when trout and steelhead are actively feeding on eggs or egg-associated prey. Particularly productive during and after salmon and steelhead spawning runs.
Pro Tips: The fluorescent orange bead and collar provide high visibility attractor points while the variegated Ultra Dry Yarn body creates a natural profile. The jig hook design and tungsten bead provide rapid sink rates for reaching fish holding near the bottom.
Entomology
Leeches aggregate near spawning redds where they feed on dislodged eggs, their dark bodies contrasted by the bright orange egg material visible through their semi-transparent digestive tracts. Trout recognize these egg-laden leeches as double-value targets that provide both the protein of the leech itself and the caloric richness of consumed eggs.
- Organism Type
- leech
- Life Stage
- general