Egg Sucking Leech Pattern

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 24, 2015

Egg Sucking Leech

Egg Sucking Leech patterns are well known by steelhead and salmon anglers and this pattern is just a little more realistic looking than many of the patterns found in fly shops today.

The typical “egg” on ESL patterns is made of bright chenille or even ice dub and really serves as a large attractor/focal point to get aggressive fish to take it. While aggressive fish of these species do exist, I feel there tends to be more fish that aren’t aggressive on an everyday basis, therefore increasing the probability of fish eating this less obtrusive pattern. The larger, gaudy and obnoxious looking patterns – I have witnessed – can turn fish aside where this “kinder, gentler” pattern tends to move into the fish’s view and often garners a feeding response.

Vincenzo with a Spring Steelhead

While leeches exist in many rivers, I don’t think they ever attach themselves to free drifting eggs. I think the idea of the Egg Sucking Leech fly pattern is that of a big and bright attractor (egg) attached to large black or purple body (leech) – this pattern is a tamer version of that idea. Do I fish patterns both big, gaudy and attention grabbing as well as the smaller, “natural looking” patterns like this one? Yes, but if I had to choose just one of the two, it would be this one – especially for steelhead fishing. The plastic bead specified is a very realistic imitation of natural steelhead eggs in regards to color and size.

The pattern itself is really quick and easy to tie which is important to Steelhead and Salmon anglers in the Great Lake Tributaries since we tend to go through a lot of flies.

Recipe

Hook: TMC 3761 #6
Thread: Uni 6/0 Black or Olive Dun
Tail: Wooly Bugger Marabou – Black
Body:                    Peacock Herl and Peacock Herl Dubbing
Hackle:                 Indian Saddle – Black
Collar:                   Dubbing – Arizona Synthetic – Peacock
Bead:                    Pucci 5mm Orange Pearl

Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Place the bead onto hook. Sometimes the hole is too small and
either the barb needs to be slightly flattened or you can use a 1/2″ countersink
drill bit by hand to slightly increase the hole’s size on back side.

Step 2. Wrap a thread base from behind the plastic bead to above the hook barb.

Step 3. Tie in the marabou tail so it extends one hook shank’s length.

Step 4. Tie in a hackle feather by the tip. Make sure that the hackle barbs won’t
extend perpendicular to the hook shank more than 1-1/2 times the hook gape.

Step 5. Tie in 4 or 5 peacock herl by the tip.

Step 6. Wind the peacock forward to just behind the bead forming a nice, slightly tapered body.

Step 7. Palmer the hackle feather to just behind the bead.

Step 8. Place a little dubbing between the hackle and
bead to bridge the gap between the body, hackle and bead.

Whip finish and you have an Egg Sucking Leech.

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Mid-October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 16, 2014

It’s the middle of October – fall colors are at peak but the salmon are past peak. The salmon are dwindling in numbers on local rivers like the Manistee and Betsie; it doesn’t appear that another push is coming. Sure, some may continue to trickle in but look for a lot of empty gravel and some carcasses wrapped around logs – it’s pretty much over. What they did leave behind are lots of eggs that are drifting downstream and the steelhead have been taking advantage of.

Steelhead numbers are also down so far this fall making it tougher than normal. But ever optimistic is the steelhead angler and with our recent downpour of rain this week (I may have burned out my bildge pump this month) more fish should start to migrate upstream. Water levels are up a bit and slightly stained on the Betsie and Manistee while the lower Manistee is stained pretty good with various tributaries contributing their silt and tannins.

Egg patterns in natural and pale colors have been working – golden, sockeye, apricot, grapefruit and Oregon Cheese have been working. The nymph bite hasn’t been too strong but as the egg drop diminishes, look for that to change. More on egg patterns- click here.

Good luck,

Ted

Open dates through Mid-November: November 11 and 13

Trout – With fall here have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Fall Steelhead– From now through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your dates booked for next year – now booking for all seasons.

Betsie, egg patterns, lower manistee, manistee, oregon cheese, salmon, steelhead

It’s Officially Fall (but it feels like summer)

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2014

The weather the past week has been really nice making for good fishing but marginal catching. Rather than some finger-less gloves in the morning, anglers are finding that sunblock is more appropriate – and the forecast calls for more of the same.

The Betsie continues to have a trickle of fish moving up it and a mix of migratory salmon in holes and some spawning on gravel. The water is stained, is cool and as the leaves start to turn – it definitely seems like fall except it is warm out.

The Manistee has had a few more fish move into it this past week and on the upper sections below the dam where gravel is most prevalent, salmon are starting their spawning ritual. And so are the usual suspects that like to fish this time of year. Both rivers have fish in the dark water staging and waiting for the optimum conditions before they spawn – these fish are the ones to target as they are more apt to take your fly. Look for the run to be a long pro-longed one this year with water temps at the lake still being off and the fish scattered throughout the big water.

The Upper Manistee trout fishing has been slower than it should be considering the warmer weather and the increase in terrestrial activity. Look for the high sun to make conditions tough but on those cloudy days – the fishing should be really good. Brook trout are approaching their spawning time and are downright vibrant in color – just like the trees that line the river bank; the colors in the CCC Bridge area are near peak right now.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Fall Steelhead– From now through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your dates booked for next year – now booking for all seasons.

Betsie, fall steelhead, manistee, salmon, traverse city, trout, upper-manistee

It’s Starting to Feel Like Fall Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 11, 2014

After last week’s heavy rain, conditions have improved but salmon numbers are still off. The water came up significantly but has also come down since and clarity has improved making it almost ideal conditions especially with bright skies. Today’s wind out of the north should help push fish closer to river mouths and get fish sniffing around looking for their native river and eventually head upstream. If anything it has been close to a month since we have had good north or north-west winds to get fish staged close which is why last week’s rain didn’t influence an abundant number of fish to migrate upstream. With today’s wind and rain it is starting to feel like fall and fall fishing.

There are some King/Chinook salmon in the Betsie and Manistee rivers but they have been hard to target as they have been on the move. Most years they stage very well but his year for some reason they haven’t been. There hasn’t been a predominate fly pattern that has been working better than another so mix it up and hold on tight when you do hook-up as they are still fresh and strong.

The trout fishing has been off a little on the upper Manistee thanks to the high volume of water. This can be a great time for the streamer angler as water temps continue to dip and the days get shorter. When the water is stained and the angling pressure is light some of those ornery browns slip out of their cover and can eat big.

Good luck,

Ted

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Salmon– A few great dates remain in mid-September for salmon fishing on the Betsie River.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

betsie river, chinook, manistee river, salmon, trout

Too Much Rain

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 5, 2014

As salmon anglers we always hope for good rains to encourage the fish to move upstream but it appears too many of us were hoping at the same time and we received way too much rain over a short period of time.

Northwest Michigan Rivers are dealing with high water and some flash flooding, Depending on the exact location it appears that between 3 and 6.5 inches fell. The Betsie River alone came up 22 inches in less than a day. While that will bring migratory salmon upstream, it also brought a lot of silt and stain to the water making it real difficult for the fish to see your flies. Wading is also difficult especially if you are unfamiliar with the water. With no rain in the forecast, things should improve after a number days but look for the water to remain high and fishing tough until it clears up.

Fishing had been o.k. with lots of fish moving upstream but not sitting still or resting in holding water making them moving targets and frankly difficult to feed. When you did hook up the ride was short and not so sweet as they are fresh and strong. They don’t seem to be as large as last year, but they are still nice fish averaging in the mid-teens. Look for other rivers that usually start later to get a sizable run of fish in them now – especially after this rain.

To check on your favorite river – visit the USGS website for water flows.

The trout fishing on the Upper Manistee had been off a little after big rains earlier in the week and after receiving over 3 inches in the past 24 hours I imagine the fish will be focused on eating whatever is being washed downstream by this high water. It would be a good time to cast some large streamers and fish the runs and tail-outs for those larger fish looking to eat big. The water is up and stained which is far from typical this time of year.

Good luck and safe wading/boating.

Ted

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Salmon– A few great dates remain in mid-September for salmon fishing on the Bestsie River.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

betsie river, fishing, flooding, manistee, rain fall, salmon, steelhead, trout, upper-manistee

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Posts tagged "salmon"

Egg Sucking Leech Pattern

Mid-October Fly Fishing Report

Open dates through Mid-November: November 11 and 13

It’s Officially Fall (but it feels like summer)

It’s Starting to Feel Like Fall Fishing

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Too Much Rain

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156