Tying the Egg Sucking Leech : A deadly fly for Trout and Steelhead

The Egg Sucking Leech is a versatile and highly effective fly pattern that imitates a leech combined with a fish egg. Its flashy, lifelike movement and vibrant egg head make it irresistible to trout, steelhead, and salmon. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to tie and fish this pattern effectively.

The Recipe

This fly pattern is simple yet highly productive. Here’s what you’ll need:

Hook: Size 4–10 streamer hook (e.g., Mustad R74-9672).
Thread: Black 6/0 or 8/0.
Egg Head: Bright orange or pink chenille.
Body: Black rabbit zonker strip or marabou.
Rib: Medium silver wire (optional).
Tail: Black rabbit strip or marabou.
Flash: Optional strands of pearl or silver Crystal Flash.

Cost of Materials

Here’s an estimate of the costs for tying the Egg Sucking Leech:

Hooks: $7.95 for 25 hooks ($0.32 per hook).
Thread: $3.29 per spool (cost per fly: $0.05).
Chenille: $3.50 per pack (cost per fly: $0.10).
Rabbit Strips/Marabou: $4.50 per pack (cost per fly: $0.30).
Silver Wire: $3.00 per spool (optional; cost per fly: $0.05).
Flash: $4.00 per pack (optional; cost per fly: $0.10).

Total Cost per Fly: Approximately $0.92 CAD (without flash or wire).

How to Tie the Egg Sucking Leech

Follow these steps to tie this productive fly:

Secure the hook in your vise and start the thread near the hook eye, wrapping a base layer to the bend.
Tie in the rabbit strip or marabou for the tail, adding optional flash for extra attraction.
Attach the chenille at the bend and wrap it forward to create the bright egg head. Tie it off near the hook eye.
Attach another strip of rabbit fur or marabou at the bend, wrapping it forward to form the body.
(Optional) Add silver wire as a rib, counter-wrapping it along the body for durability and segmentation.
Create a neat thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement for durability.

How to Fish the Egg Sucking Leech

This fly is a versatile option for targeting aggressive fish. Here are some tips:

Retrieve: Fish it with a slow strip-and-pause retrieve or dead drift it in currents.
Best Conditions: Highly effective in cold water or during spawning seasons when fish are keying in on eggs.
Target Species: Particularly effective for steelhead, salmon, and large trout.
Presentation: Use a sinking or intermediate line to keep the fly near the bottom.

The History of the Egg Sucking Leech

The Egg Sucking Leech originated in North America as a hybrid pattern, combining the leech’s lifelike movement with the egg’s visual appeal. It quickly gained popularity among steelhead and salmon anglers due to its consistent success, particularly in cold waters and during spawning runs.

Why the Egg Sucking Leech?

The Egg Sucking Leech is a must-have for anglers targeting aggressive, predatory fish. Its combination of movement, flash, and visual appeal makes it a reliable choice in various conditions. Whether you’re after steelhead, trout, or salmon, this pattern is sure to deliver. Tie a few, head to the water, and see its effectiveness firsthand!