Fly Tying

How To Tie: Pyramid Leech

🎣 Welcome back to Tying Tuesday, fellow fly fanatics! This week, we’re back in the vise game with Kyle at the bench, whipping up a highly requested pattern — the Pyramid Leech!

This fly is a balanced, buggy beast that’s downright deadly in stillwater. Whether you’re planning a trip to the legendary Pyramid Lake or just chasing fat trout in your local lakes and reservoirs, this leech deserves a permanent spot in your fly box.

Why? Because fish LOVE leeches—especially BC trout. And this one’s got the movement, profile, and attitude to trigger those aggressive eats. Tune in, tie along, and get ready to make your stillwater arsenal a whole lot nastier. 💥

Tie it. Fish it. Love it.

Let’s go! 🎣💥

Recipe:

• Hook: Umpqua Jig 60 XT5000, Size 10

• Thread: Nano Silk 6/0, Black

• Tailing Material: Natures Spirit Premium Bugger Bou, Black

• Pin: Hareline Balance Pin

• Bead: Wapsi Tungsten 5/32 Bead, Black Nickel

Body Material: Arizona Diamond Dub, Semi Seal, Red & Back

Looking for some Tips & Tricks

Absolutely! Here’s a detailed and engaging guide with tips and tricks for fishing leech fly patterns in spring and early summer, tailored to help anglers get the most out of this killer fly type in still and moving water:

🪱 Tips & Tricks for Fishing Leech Patterns in Spring & Early Summer

Leech imitations are a must-have during spring and early summer when trout are feeding aggressively after the long winter. Whether you’re in high mountain lakes or slower moving river systems, these flies can be absolute game-changers.

🎯 1. Target the Right Water

  • Stillwaters (lakes, reservoirs, ponds): Focus on shallow flats, drop-offs, and inlets where water is warming and aquatic life is becoming more active.
  • Rivers & Streams: Look for slower runs, back eddies, and deep pools where leeches naturally reside.

🌅 2. Fish Low Light for Big Bites

  • Leech activity increases in low-light conditions. Fish leeches during early mornings, late evenings, or overcast days for more consistent success.
  • Bonus: Trout feel more confident cruising in shallows during these times.

🎣 3. Use a Balanced Leech Under an Indicator

  • A balanced leech (like Kyle’s Pyramid Leech) hangs horizontally, perfectly mimicking a real leech’s posture in the water.
  • Pair it with an indicator rig, suspended just above the bottom, and dead-drift or give it small twitches. Deadly on stillwater!

🔄 4. Vary Your Retrieve

  • Leeches move with an undulating, erratic motion.
  • Try the slow-strip, hand-twist, or pause-and-pull retrieves. Sometimes just letting the fly sink and sit can entice a take.
  • In rivers, short upstream tosses with a swing-and-hold can mimic leeches getting swept in the current.

🧪 5. Experiment with Color

  • Black, brown, and olive are classics, but spring can bring murky water, so don’t be afraid to throw in purple, wine, or red leech patterns for visibility.
  • A subtle hot bead or flashy dubbing collar can also turn curious fish into biters.

🪡 6. Double It Up

  • Fish a leech in tandem with a smaller chironomid, scud, or mayfly nymph to cover more of the hatch spectrum.
  • The leech acts as an attractor; the smaller fly often gets the grab.

💧 7. Slow Sink Lines = Gamechanger

  • Use intermediate or type 1 sinking lines to keep your leech in the strike zone longer when stripping or drifting.
  • Floating lines with long leaders (10–12 ft) work great for suspended leeches under an indicator.

🔥 8. Keep it Moving in Warm Water

  • As summer progresses and water warms, leeches become more active—so should your presentation.
  • Fish with more aggressive strips or switch to streamer-style retrieves to provoke reaction strikes.

🧰 Bonus Tip: Pre-Tie a Leech Box

Leech patterns are versatile but get torn up quickly by hungry fish. Keep a dozen or more ready to roll, especially if you’re hitting BC, Pyramid, or high-country lakes.

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