In time, the Kissing Leech will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most effective trout fly patterns on the best fly fishing lakes in BC. This easy to tie and easy to present killer fly pattern adds a new dimension 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 observe firsthand the life cycles of various freshwater insects and invertebrates. 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, insect life cycles appear to be speeding up.

One thing I had never witnessed before in my neck of the woods (Kamloops, BC) was the mating pattern of the common leech. There were a large number of leeches in Lake Wellesley and they were somewhat smaller than the leeches we see here. They seemed to be only about 2-3 centimeters long (+/- 1 inch). During mating, they joined at one end in a “V” pattern and appeared to swim for long periods of time, undulating in this formation. I didn’t really realize at the time that this would be a potential fly pattern. When I returned home to Kamloops, I was reviewing what I had observed and began tying a fly pattern that resembled mating leeches. I had been experimenting with strips of rabbit leeches the year before, but I was tying them up big and bulky. This pattern could be shorter overall and not as bulky along the length of the hook body. I still used rabbit strips with hooks of various sizes and the results were sensational. Due to the potential commercialization of the pattern to the general public, it was not okay to call the fly “Mating Leech” or simply “Fucking Leech”, so we decided to soften the name. more acceptable “Kissing Leech”.

This pattern is effective throughout the season, but particularly at the beginning, just after ice removal, and at the end of the season, within a month of freezing. This pattern has resulted in catching my first fish in each of the last 3 seasons. It can be fished on all different lines (floating, slow sinking, deep sinking, etc.) and with various retrieve techniques, however I suggest your retrieve allow for freehand fly. I particularly like to fish parallel to brush beds to catch cruisers along the drop offs. It also works relatively well during summer stagnation when used with a deep sinking line in the deepest holes on the lake (25′-40′ deep).

As for the rabbit strip, I found that making each arm of the “V” a different color increased the fly’s attraction and generated more hits. My favorite color combination is purple and black. I also usually make the arms the same length, however I have also had success with varying the length of each arm.

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Kissing Leech Materials

Hook: Mustad 9672 – #6 – #12

Thread: Black – Danville’s 210 – FLYMASTER +PLUS+

Body (hook axis): black yarn, herl peacock, dark flashiboo

Bodysuit (leech material): rabbit strip – purple, black, dark red, olive green, etc.)

Rib: normally none, however you can try a red, silver, gold or copper thin wire wrap Thorax: peacock herl

Size: usually none or try a short lock cut from one of the rabbit strips

Head: small (3/32″) bead of black or white metal or glass. A gold bead may also suffice

Tying Instructions for the Kissing Leech:

Slide on your black or white glass bead.

Dress the hook with your dark thread and then tie it in rib. Keep the body lean. Secure behind bill head. Wrap the rib forward to about 1/8″ behind the head of the bead and secure.

Cut your rabbit strip to the desired length. I suggest cutting the leather between 3/4″ and 1″ long. Make the diagonal so that the leather tapers to a point.

Place the first strip along one side of the shaft, inserting the tip of the strip at or as close to the head of the bead as possible. Tie it off in some high winds (which is why I suggest flymaster+ twine) and secure

Tie a couple of strands of peacock herl for the thorax. Don’t wrap yet.

Place the second rabbit strip on the opposite side of the hook, inserting the pointed tip under the bead if possible. Secure it tightly and tie it off.

Wrap the peacock herl to finish the head area and secure behind the bead’s head. Add head cement.