Egg Sucking Leech
The Egg Sucking Leech is one of the most productive steelhead and Pacific salmon patterns ever developed. The combination of a pulsing black marabou body and bright chartreuse or pink yarn ball at the head suggests a leech eating a salmon egg — an irresistible combination during fall and early winter when eggs are in the river. Fish it on a sink-tip line with a slow downstream swing. Equally deadly for late-season trout in egg-laden tailwaters.
- Type
- streamer (Steelhead)
- Hook sizes
- #2–6
- Target species
- steelhead, trout, salmon
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- fall, winter, spring
Materials
- hook: 3X or 4X long streamer hook #2–6
- thread: Black or purple 6/0
- head: Black or chartreuse tungsten cone
- tail: Black marabou, full
- flash: Purple or black Krystal Flash
- body: Black or purple chenille
Tying steps
- Slide a black or chartreuse tungsten cone onto a size 2–6 3XL or 4XL hook; mount.
- Start purple or black thread; wrap a smooth base from behind the cone to the bend.
- Tie in a full, thick black marabou tail at the bend.
- Add 4 strands of purple or black Krystal Flash alongside the tail.
- Wind black or purple chenille from bend to behind the cone.
- Palmer a black hackle forward in open spirals over the chenille body.
- Tie off the hackle just behind the cone.
- Tie in a bright chartreuse or pink yarn ball directly behind the cone to simulate the egg.
- Build a thread head between the cone and egg ball; whip finish and cement.