Over time, undoubtedly, the Kissing Leech will prove to be one of the most effective trout fly patterns in the best fly fishing lakes in BC. This simple to tie and easy to present killer fly pattern adds a new dimension to your to your BC fly fishing experience. Let me tell you my story.
While spending part of a summer in Canada's Yukon Territory a few years ago, I had the opportunity to watch the life cycles of various freshwater insects and invertebrates first hand. Oddly enough, many of the same aquatic life cycles in this northern climate are similar to those found in the fly fishing lakes of southern British Columbia. The only difference would be the time frame in which it occurs. With longer days and a shorter season, the life cycles of the insects appear to be in fast forward.
One thing that I had never witnessed before in my neck of the woods (Kamloops, BC) was the mating pattern of the common leech. There was an abundance of leeches in Wellesley Lake and they were somewhat smaller than the leeches that we see here. They seemed to be only about 2-3 centimeters in length (+/-1 inch). While mating, they joined at one end forming a "V" pattern and seemed to swim around for long periods of time, undulating in this formation. It really didn't dawn on me at that time that this would be a potential fly pattern. When I returned home to Kamloops, I was reviewing what I had observed and started tieing a fly pattern that resembled the mating leeches. I had been experimenting with rabbit strip leeches the previous year but I was tying them big and bulky. This pattern could be shorter in general and not as bulky along the body of the hook. I still used rabbit strip with various sized hooks and the results were sensational. Because of the potential marketability of the pattern to the general public, it was uncool to name the fly "the Mating Leech" or just a plain old "f*#%ing Leech", so we decided to smooth out the name to a far more acceptable "Kissing Leech".
This pattern is effective throughout the season but particularly early, just after ice off and late in the season, within a month of freeze up. This pattern has resulted in the catching of my first fish each of the last 3 seasons.It can be fished on all different lines (floating, slow sinker, deep sinker, etc) and with various retrieving techniques however I do suggest that your retrieve allows the fly to pulsate. I particularly like fishing parallel to weedbeds to catch the cruisers along the dropoffs. It also does relatively well during the summer doldrums when used with a deep sinking line in the deeper holes of the lake (25'-40' deep).
As for the rabbit strip I found that making each arm of the "V" a different colour added to the attractability of the fly and generated more more strikes. My favorite color combination is purple and black. I also usually make the arms the same length however I also had success in varying the length of each arm.
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Materials for the Kissing Leech
Hook: Mustad 9672 - #6 - #12
Thread: Black - Danville's 210 - FLYMASTER +PLUS+
Body (shaft of hook): black thread, peacock herl, dark flashiboo
Body (leech material): rabbit strip - purple, black, dark red, olive green, etc)
Rib: normally none however you could try a red, silver, gold or copper thin wire wrap Thorax: peacock herl
Tail: usually none or try a short tuft cut from one of rabbit strips
Head: small (3/32") black or white metal or glass bead. A gold bead may also suffice
Tying Instructions for the Kissing Leech:
Slide on your glass white or black bead.Dress the hook with your dark thread and then tie in rib. Keep the body thin. Secure behind the bead head. Wrap the ribbing forward to about 1/8" behind the bead head and secure.
Cut your rabbit strip to the desired length. I suggest cutting the leather between 3/4" and 1" long. Make the diagonally so that the leather narrows to a point.
Place the first strip along one side of the shaft, inserting the point of the strip into or as close to the bead head as possible. Tie it off with a few tight winds (this is why I suggest the flymaster+ thread) and secure
Tie in a couple of strands of peacock herl for the thorax. Do not wrap yet.
Place the second rabbit strip on the opposite side of the hook, inserting the pointed tip under the bead if possible. Secure tightly and tie it off.
Wrap the peacock herl to finish the head area off and secure behind the bead head. Add head cement.
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