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Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
#13045814
01/29/19 09:10 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
These just seem to catch fish. Some days, one color seems to be better than others. Current favorite color is brown. I tie most on size 1 90 degree jig hooks, qamakatsu or owner. #24 bankers pin for the extension, 1/8" or 5/32" tungsten bead. Marabou tail, Arizona Simi Seal dubbed on in a dubbing loop. Outfishes a bead head bugger, at least that's been my experience. Presents differently, with a more horizontal motion on the strip as opposed to the bugger. I fish these with floating fly line and no indicator. I fish as deep as water that is 10 feet, but that doesn't mean the fish are right on the bottom. If I want to fish deeper, I lengthen the fluorocarbon leader a couple of feet. But they will get whatever predator fish is feeding, at least channel catfish, crappie and Largemouth Bass. The size 1 hooks keep sunfish away. Strip, pause, strip, pause, vary it up, different days, different cadence and speed. A five or six weight will toss them with ease far enough. Anyway, just some information on a possible add to your box if you tie your own. I enjoy rolling these jigs through the feeding zone. I'll likely switch over to deer hair divers when the fish start surface feeding.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13045887
01/29/19 10:08 PM
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 239
Fly Fishing Scout
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 239 |
Awesome pictures!
I wonder what happened to the crappie. LOL
Texas Mason, Bells Lodge 798. To be one, ask one.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13046196
01/30/19 02:15 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
Brown Pelicans and Comorants are always on the attack out on the lake. So are water turkeys and Osprey. My guess its a cormorant that did the damage. Have caught a bass or two with similar gashes. Twice, Ive found crappie on the bank still alive with obvious trauma. I think that was done by Osprey. Theres a couple of bald eagles that sometimes harass the Osprey into dropping their catch.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13046219
01/30/19 02:32 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,244
KQT
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,244 |
Common carp 26 Goldfish 9.78lb Mirror Koi 14lb Koi 16lb Channel Catfish 26lbs Blue Cat 30lb Bass 9.5lb
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13050780
02/03/19 03:54 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
Lost a 6-7 pound bass two days ago on a chartreuse tailed one. I let it get too deep into the dock pilings. Thought I'd better tie more, the bass fishing is really heating up here. Fish are still out in deeper water, but they seem to be hungry.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13050961
02/03/19 07:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,306
Linecaster
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,306 |
Been catching LMB after dark especially early morning throughout the winter, give it a try.
In the beginning God created. Gen. 1:1 All things were made by him and without him was not anything made. John 1:3
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13052911
02/05/19 11:49 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
I havent done a lot of night fishing. Used to stay out in the boat a little after twilight when I fished baitcasting gear. Ive done a saltwater kayak trip or two in the dark. Fishing the lights in a development is okay, but the unlit bay and marsh at night in a kayak is a little too exposed for my tastes. Ive done it in a bigger Jon boat and that seems a little better. Still, I get a little preoccupied with not running into nasty and injurious stuff in the dark to enjoy fishing like I do in the daylight.
Read about folks hooking bats after sundown with their flies, no thank you to that. I have zero desire working to remove a bloody hook from a potential and quite likely ticked off rabies and other disease vector with sharp teeth. Plus, I need every visual cue I can get to avoid hooking trees and snags during daylight hours. How does anyone not blessed with owl vision fish around shoreline vegetation and snags with fly tackle in the dark?
I guess I could just fish the open water hoping for the best all the while worrying if this is the cast that gets me my first fly rod bat or if this is the night the water moccasin decides my boat looks like a convenient place to rest. Sounds like a great time.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13062230
02/14/19 12:45 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
Good one off the dock on the Chartreuse and Black Balanced leech. Out deep still.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13107867
03/30/19 10:13 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
Ive started using the little size 8 Balanced leeches lately and they are really working well for the lake variety. Sunfish love them, catfish, Crappie and bass do too. Light enough to cast well for a two weight. I dragged in a couple of two pound channel cats last night at twilight with the 2 weight CGR, loved the bend in the rod.
Not every fly pattern can work well in different size ranges and across species. So far, the Balanced leech is a good pattern tied on size 1 down to size 8 hooks. I havent tried to go smaller. I did do a 1/0 hook version, but that one needs work.
Stillwater, the Balanced leech is a versatile choice for cold or warmwater species. I havent tried one in flowing water, but if woolly buggers and clousers work in those environments, I dont see any reason the Balanced leech wouldnt work there too.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13111821
04/03/19 03:46 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
I rehabilitated this size 8 Balanced leech today. It had come unraveled from use and all the dubbing was gone from the bead to the hook eye. I secured the loose thread, dubbed in more material and whipped finished. The jig couldnt miss on the Crappie this afternoon. Dont give up on your ties too soon.
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Re: Balanced Leeches, the all purpose fly rod jig.
[Re: karstopo]
#13112056
04/03/19 01:31 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078
karstopo
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,078 |
Latest crop. Balanced Leeches are really good for fishing slower and seem better than bead head woolly buggers in that respect. These are in the in between sizes, mostly size 6. Size eight is good for almost everything in the lake. The hooks are pretty easy to bend open, though. Fished off this dock yesterday late afternoon and caught maybe two dozen Crappie, plus a couple of bass and bluegill. All slow rolling the golden shiner size 8 leech through the same spots over and over. The 2 weight 62 CGR was perfect as you can see theres limbs and tight spaces to contend with. Fishing while enjoying an ale with my dad did not suck.
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