Leeches

Overview:
Leeches (order Hirudinea) are versatile, worm-like creatures found in a variety of aquatic environments, including both still and fast-moving waters. They come in a range of colors, including black, brown, olive, and sometimes red, and can vary in size from 2 to 12 inches long. Leeches are bottom dwellers, often hiding in the mud, vegetation, or submerged structures, but they can also be found drifting in the water column. As scavengers, they feed on small invertebrates, detritus, and occasionally small fish. Leeches are an important food source for predatory fish, such as trout, bass, and pike, especially during low-light periods like dawn or dusk. Fly patterns that imitate leeches, often in streamer form, are highly effective in both still and fast-moving waters, as their natural undulating motion attracts fish looking for a substantial meal. For fly fishing, hook sizes for leech patterns typically range from 6 to 12, depending on the size of the leech being imitated.