LeechWinkler's Balanced Leather Leech
Winkler's Balanced Leather Leech, designed by Matt Winkler and demonstrated by Charlie Craven, represents an innovative approach to balanced fly construction. The pattern uses Ultrasuede (Leech Leather) to form an undulating tail that ripples and shimmies on both the sink and retrieve, creating irresistible movement that triggers strikes from stillwater trout.
Year Round
Advanced
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
This Charlie Craven tutorial demonstrates Matt Winkler's innovative design that builds on Jerry McBride's original balanced fly technique. The key innovation is using Ultrasuede (which Winkler dyes and sells as Leech Leather) for the tail, creating movement unlike traditional materials. The slim Simi Seal body provides just enough flash and movement to complement the tail without overwhelming it.
Materials
Hook: Umpqua XT500, #10
Thread: UNI-Thread 6/0, olive
Shank: Dressmaker's pin
Bead: Tungsten bead, 1/8", copper
Tail: Winkler's Leech Leather, olive
Body: Arizona Simi Seal Dubbing, peacock green
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Leeches alternate between swimming with undulating movements and passive drifting, their bodies rippling continuously to maintain depth. Their shimmy during descent creates visual triggers that attract attention in lakes and ponds.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish hunt throughout the water column in lakes and ponds, often taking leeches suspended under indicators or during slow descents.
How to Fish It: Fish under indicator allowing the balanced design to hang horizontally, where the tail creates natural movement even when stationary.
Best Water: Target weed edges where leeches travel, drop-offs providing depth transitions, and shoals near structure.
Strike Type: Strikes feel like steady pulls or gradual line draws as fish swim away with the suspended leech.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 12-15 foot leader with 5X-6X fluorocarbon tippet under an adjustable indicator. The tungsten bead provides adequate weight for proper balance and sink rate.
Seasonal Timing: lake effectiveness with the Leech Leather tail providing movement even in cold water conditions when natural materials might become stiff. Select this pattern when fishing lake under indicators where the balanced presentation provides an advantage.
Pro Tips: The peacock green Simi Seal body provides subtle flash while the olive Leech Leather tail creates natural movement. The copper bead adds weight while complementing the overall olive/brown color scheme.
Entomology
Free-swimming leeches alternate between active swimming phases and passive drifting, their flattened bodies rippling continuously to maintain depth control in stillwater environments. During descent phases, they shimmy and spiral downward in corkscrewing patterns that attract attention. Fish strike leeches aggressively because their constant movement signals availability while their lack of defensive spines or toxins makes them safe, nutritious prey items.
- Organism Type
- leech
- Life Stage
- general