Egg-Sucking Leech: A Deadly Pattern for Sea-Run Brown Trout

The Egg-Sucking Leech is a highly effective trout fly pattern that has been a staple in fly boxes for decades. It is essentially a modified Woolly Bugger or leech pattern with an added bright, egg-like head—typically orange, pink, or chartreuse—imitating both a leech and a fish egg at the same time.

Origins and Development

The Egg-Sucking Leech is believed to have originated in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, where it was developed to target salmon, steelhead, and trout in rivers. While the exact inventor remains unknown, the pattern likely evolved from standard leech imitations, which were already widely used in cold-water fisheries. Anglers discovered that adding a bright “egg” at the head of the fly made it particularly deadly, as it mimicked both a natural prey item (a leech) and a high-protein food source (a drifting fish egg).

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Egg-Sucking Leech gained popularity as anglers fishing for migratory species realized its effectiveness in triggering aggressive strikes. Some credit its rise in fame to fly fishers targeting Alaskan rainbows and steelhead, who noted that the pattern was particularly deadly in systems where fish were feeding on eggs.

Why It Works

1. Dual Imitation – The fly resembles both a leech (a natural prey item) and a salmon egg, which many fish instinctively key in on.
2. Aggression Trigger – The bright head acts as a trigger point, often provoking aggressive reaction strikes from territorial fish, especially salmon.
3. Versatility – It can be fished in rivers, lakes, and estuaries, making it effective for sea run trout (sea trout, char, steelhead, and even bass.
4. Perfect for Sea-Run Browns – In rivers where sea-run brown trout migrate and feed, the Egg-Sucking Leech is a reliable pattern that triggers both feeding and territorial aggression. These trout often encounter leeches in slower pools and back eddies, while also showing an instinctive reaction to brightly colored eggs.

Available in Three Sizes

To maximize its effectiveness in different water conditions, we offer the Egg-Sucking Leech in three sizes, ensuring you have the right fly whether you’re fishing deep pools, fast runs, or slow-moving backwaters where sea trout hold.

Egg-Sucking Leech fluorecent green head