Overview

The Sunny Side Leech is a Hans Mylant design, tied by Umpqua. Mylant is an Umpqua signature tyer from the Southern Rockies, and he built this fly to fish like a heavy nymph rather than a streamer.

Most egg-sucking leeches are made to be stripped. The Sunny Side Leech is heavy, sinks quickly and rides hook point up, so you can dead drift it without adding split shot. That makes it a natural lead fly on an indicator rig or an anchor on a tight-line system, combining two things trout eat when they get the chance: an egg and a small leech.

Euro Specs

• Hook: Rides point up.
• Role: Anchor (point) fly on tight-line rigs, or lead fly on a suspension rig.

How to Fish It

• Anchor fly: use it as the point fly on a tight-line rig with a smaller nymph above.
• Suspension rig: fish it as the lead fly under an indicator; no split shot needed.
• Swing it out: Mylant advises letting it swing up at the end of the drift.
• When: spawning seasons and after high water, when eggs and leeches are in the drift.

Choosing Color and Size

Black / Fl. Orange and Purple / Chartreuse are high-contrast choices for off-color water and low light. Olive / Root Beer is the most natural look for clear water, and Rust / Pink leans toward an egg-and-worm attractor. All come in size 16.