LEECH

article by Ron Newman

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Description:

• colours run from black and brown to maroon; solid or mottled.
• average size is up to 50 mm, but some have reached up to 150 mm when fully extended.
• flattened body, segmented like an earthworm.

• reproduction is on an "individual" basis; all leeches are capable of producing egg masses which they attach to an object under the water surface.

• leeches are scavengers who feed on decaying or dead organic matter but will also hunt insect larvae, snails and shrimp.

Habitat:

• leeches like to live in shallow areas with a good covering of vegetation or woody debris which provides both food and cover.
• will also be found in dark lakes with abundant cover of lilly pads.

Movement:

• they have sucking discs on each end of the body which enables them to "inch" along an object or the lake bottom'.
• they swim with an undulating up and down motion.

• fish seem to find leeches more appealing in spring and again in mid to late summer.
• fish close to the bottom in shallow waters.
• retrieve with continuous hand twists or long slow strips.
• can use trolling to imitate the leeches swimming, as they cause considerable movement with their undulating motion; boat speed and direction should be varied.
• the evening is often a good time as it is thought that leeches do most of their travelling and food search at night.
• fish prefer the young small leeches up to 1 1/2 inches.
• in deeper waters use a sinking line and a weighted fly; retrieving using a pull, rest, sink movement.

• Little Fort Leech
• Upside Down Leech
• Blood Leech
• Weighted Marabou
• Black Wooly Bugger
• Olive Wooly Bugger
• Maroon Wooly Bugger

Be sure to read other articles by Ron Newman

Study Other Insects | Tip & Techniques | Study Fly Patterns