Tullis' Daphnia Cluster Leech

The Tullis' Daphnia Cluster Leech is a hybridized fly pattern created by Gary Tullis, known for innovating productive stillwater flies. Originally inspired by the clustering habits of daphnia zooplankton, which attract large trout in nutrient-rich lakes, this fly combines the profile of a leech with the appearance of suspended prey balls. Tullis designed it to mimic both the motion and the silhouette of a leech or daphnia group, which trout mistake as an easy meal. The pattern gained traction in the early 2000s for its effectiveness in enticing selective, cruising trout in stillwater environments, particularly in low-light conditions or nutrient-dense waters.

Double-Fly Rig: Pair the Daphnia Cluster Leech with a small chironomid dropper. This combination mimics diverse forage, increasing the chances of triggering strikes.