HOOK: 3x or 4x long, size 4 to 10 BODY: Black yarn, chenille or dubbing, with maraboo tied down in clumps. BEARD: Optional. Crystal flash or Flashaboo. TAIL: Marabou, the same color as the body.

TYING TIPS:
Some tie the Marabou Leech without a lead wire underbody. In theory, a leadless Marabou Leech will act differently in the water, giving the angler perhaps better control over the movement of the fly. This is in contrast to that which is tied with lead, which is said to act much like a jig in the water. An additional advantage to a weighted Marabou Leech is the rate in which it will sink. Since the Marabou Leech is often fished close to the bottom in lake fishing conditions, a weighted fly will descend to the "zone" more quickly.

FISHING THE MARABOU LEECH:
The Marabou Leech is one of the most effective fly pattern in British Columbia. With its pulsation motion (due to the Marabou), it is no wonder fish find this fly so attractive.

The most common way to fish the Marabou Leech in British Columbia's lakes, is to fish on the bottom with a full sink line. Often variations in the retrieve will elicit strikes. Short tugs of about 2 to 3 inches, or long slow pulls of about 8 to 12 inches, followed by a pause should be tried. One of the best things about the Marabou Leech is that it often will not matter how you manipulate the fly. Often, simply trolling the fly, either slowly or quickly is good enough for most fish.

Another effective method of fishing this fly in lake situations, is to fish it on shallow shoals and drop-offs, with either a slow sink line or a floating line. Strikes encountered in these conditions are often nothing short of explosive!