Balanced vs Standard Leech Under Indicators
- Thread starter ifsteve
- Start date
Paul_
Life of the Party
I voted for number 1, but I fish exclusively balanced under a bobber. I think I’ve probably bought into the balanced hype a bit too much
.
From my experience leeches under a bobber work the best when they are moving.
In the end I really don’t think it matters if they are balanced or not, when they are moving. But yet, I still fish a balanced leech under a bobber, I have issues…
.From my experience leeches under a bobber work the best when they are moving.
In the end I really don’t think it matters if they are balanced or not, when they are moving. But yet, I still fish a balanced leech under a bobber, I have issues…
I fished leeches under my indicator before I knew they could be tied on jig hooks and balanced. Now I have a box dedicated to balanced versions 
. Like @Paul_ said, they all work better with a chop providing some movement.
Edit: I still fish traditional leeches as my top pattern when I fish a pair of flies under my indicator. I add a dropper by tying in to the eye of the first fly. The bottom pattern is usually a balanced or jig type fly with a large tungsten bead. The extra weight pulls the top fly into a 45-degree orientation, similar to a jig. Lots of fish eat the top pattern.
. Like @Paul_ said, they all work better with a chop providing some movement.Edit: I still fish traditional leeches as my top pattern when I fish a pair of flies under my indicator. I add a dropper by tying in to the eye of the first fly. The bottom pattern is usually a balanced or jig type fly with a large tungsten bead. The extra weight pulls the top fly into a 45-degree orientation, similar to a jig. Lots of fish eat the top pattern.
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I can't vote, because I've never fished a balanced leech. I can say that they seem to be a little extra effective for folks I fish with that use them. I think they are at least a small cut above the standard, non-balanced types. I'm not sure why I've never learned the tying technique, but it seems like more effort than I like to put in if I can avoid it.
I will say that I recently discovered the jig style thing with tungsten beads, and I like those a lot (because they're easy and quick to tie, and the fish like them a lot, too!). My top jig-style pattern lately has been about 1/2" length of micro rabbit strip tied in near the back, an ice dub body, and a gold tungsten bead head. Best color (that I have tried) has been olive, by a pretty solid margin, with black being second.
The reason I mention jigs in a thread about balanced leeches is to say that I think there are definite advantages to techniques that "suspend" flies horizontally, whether you're using a jig technique, balancing, or whatever else.
And yes, at least most of the time, a little movement seems to bump up the effectiveness of all leech patterns. If you don't have wind chop, slow, steady strips with pauses provide good movement.
I will say that I recently discovered the jig style thing with tungsten beads, and I like those a lot (because they're easy and quick to tie, and the fish like them a lot, too!). My top jig-style pattern lately has been about 1/2" length of micro rabbit strip tied in near the back, an ice dub body, and a gold tungsten bead head. Best color (that I have tried) has been olive, by a pretty solid margin, with black being second.
The reason I mention jigs in a thread about balanced leeches is to say that I think there are definite advantages to techniques that "suspend" flies horizontally, whether you're using a jig technique, balancing, or whatever else.
And yes, at least most of the time, a little movement seems to bump up the effectiveness of all leech patterns. If you don't have wind chop, slow, steady strips with pauses provide good movement.
I don't bother with balanced leeches anymore, as the SSL on a jig hook seems just as effective for the stocked trout around here.
Wayne Kohan
Life of the Party
I fish balanced leeches and some unbalanced leeches, but when I have seen leeches swimming in the water it seems that they are usually oriented upwards at about a 45 degree angle, so the jig head leeches make sense to me.
Hi Steve. If you took issue with anything please let us know. But from my check into this thread, it seems people were contributing to the answer with some humor thrown in between. You're absolutely welcome here and the type of question posed here is exactly the type of threads we love seeing.
I've spent time looking at how my jig leeches swim with a go pro under water.
It's juicy and dang near horizontal enough for me.
That's a nice tie, and such a deadly pattern.
I've been fishing these with the boys recently and their darn near as effective as worms or powerbait.
What's the dubbing on those couple chartreuse one's in the middle? Very nice buggy look.
That's the Canadian Black Simiseal, my favorite. The others are different blacks (w/ red or green) I have. The chartreuse ones also have got a lot of attention from the crappie in the past. The blacks used to look better but the fish seem to keep eating them. Should tie some more before they fill the reservoir and I get to try the new boat ramp.
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x2...and often exchange the top leech for a soft hackle.
Regarding BL's and wind...have found when that much desired surface chop is missing, a thinner BL profile will often induce more takes. And if dead calm on my fave lakes will forego BL's and open with Bloodworm's on an intermediate with long leader and slooow retrieve .
Looking forward to lakes opening end of month, the ongoing kitchen and bathrooms upgrade will be completed, and with the gorgeous spring weather we've been having here in the Cascades conditions should be ideal.
wil
I bet that lights up under a UV light
