July 2003
by Rich Johnson

Fly of the Month: Mohair Leech

Comments: Leeches are a year around food source in lakes. As such, it's always a safe bet that on any given day, some fish will take a leech pattern. I grew up fishing on a lake. True, it was with a spin caster, bobber, and bait off a dock, or out of a row boat. But I grew up knowing that leeches are everywhere in lakes. They're particularly fond of weedy , mucky bottoms. Needless to say I was not fond of them and salted every one that I caught. Had I been a tad smarter back then, I'd have used them for bait instead of those little round balls from a jar. When I was introduced to float tubing I welcomed lake fishing back into my life. Being a bit smarter by then, slow trolling a leech pattern was one of my first, and still is my favorite tactic on a lake. I have three favorite patterns; an unweighted bunny fly tied in burgundy or brown, the Marabou Lake Leech in assorted colors, and the Mohair Leech in Canadian Brown or Canada Blood. ( I've also tied it in the Pond Olive, but never had much luck with that color.) As lake fishing is a great option from the combat streams this month I thought I'd share how I tie my Mohair Leech.