Master the Art of Tying a Balanced Leech: Bruised (H/O Bead)

Balanced Leeches are a must-have pattern in any stillwater fly box. The Bruised version, black with blue highlights, is my favourite color. The addition of the hot orange bead is often a difference maker when compared to the original gold version.
Since I began tying balanced flies, my original materials and techniques have evolved, including bead colour, mounting the bead, integrating sequin pins and my preferred hook style.
Like most balanced flies, Balanced Leeches are often fished suspended beneath an indicator, typically from 1-3 above the bottom or weed tops. Balanced flies, such as my Bruised Leech, are also excellent choices to fish using cast and retrieve techniques coupled with a 4-6 strip pause retrieve.
Balanced Leech-Bruised (Hot Orange Bead)
Hook: Daiichi 4640 or 4647 #10
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, Black
Tail: Marabou, Black and Flashabou Ice Blue Pearl (#6904)
Body: Arizona Simi Seal, Black/Blue
Bead: Tungsten, 1/8" (3.0 MM), Fluorescent Orange, Chartreuse, Hot Pink or Gold
Pin Extension: Sequin Pin, Gold or Silver
Material Sources
Daiichi 4640 or 4647: www.canadianll...
Semperfli Nano Silk, Black: collabs.shop/4...
Marabou, Black: collabs.shop/c...
Flashabou Ice Blue Pearl (#6904): collabs.shop/k...
Arizona Simi Seal, Black/Blue: collabs.shop/x...
Tungsten, 1/8" (3.2 MM), Fluorescent Orange: www.canadianll...
Sequin Pin, Gold or Silver: canada.michael...
Tools and Other Gear
Regal Revolution Vise: collabs.shop/v...
Dr. Slick Dubbing Tool: collabs.shop/0...
Dr. Slick Scissors: collabs.shop/i...
Hareline Ultimate Dubbing Brush: collabs.shop/8...
Brushable Superglue: amzn.to/409dLA8
Learn How to Fly Fish Lakes
Take my Stillwater Essentials Masterclass: anchoredoutdoo...
Learn how more about backswimmers and how to fish them through my Orvis Guide to Stillwater Trout Fishing: bit.ly/OrvisGu...
Keep in Touch
Website: flycraftangling...
Join My Mailing List: bit.ly/2qmU2QL
Facebook: goo.gl/gYR2MB
Instagram: goo.gl/QVot5t
Twitter: / flycraftphil

[@LorenIrving]

Thanks for all the tweaking Phil. Will start using that orange bead. This fly works so well and again very much appreciate the pattern. I tie them by the dozen and find myself handing them out them out when someone notices I am bring the net out again and again. Best to ya

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Loren,
Thanks for the kind words and for helping others “balance” their fly boxes.
I seldom rest with many of my patterns. There is always something new to try. A chartreuse bead version worked very well for me last December in Argentina. Fl. Pink is also another great variation.
Cheers, Phil

[@DennisMcFall]

Thanks Phil for the great patterns and the instruction. I appreciate the way you explain what to do, how to do it, and why. As a relatively new tier I find many of the videos I watch are just that--watching what someone does without fully understanding exactly how or why. Little things count.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks for the kind words.
I am pleased to hear you find my videos helpful and that you are enjoying them. It’s good to know I appear to be on the right track.
Cheers, Phil

[@sergtang5593]

This is a revolutionary fly. Thanks to keep working on the pattern Phil.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks.
I am pleased to hear you enjoyed my video. I hope you find it helpful.
Cheers, Phil

[@sergtang5593]

This fly works really well in lake over here where I catch nice Brook Trout.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

@@sergtang5593 That’s great to hear. Where are you catching Brook trout?
Cheers, Phil

[@bobbell5265]

Absolutely brilliant fly Phil....great instructions and superbly tied. Regards Robbie from UK. 👍👍👍

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Robbie. I hope you have the chance to try balanced flies such as this on your stillwaters.
Cheers, Phil

[@Tenchhunter]

Absolutely brilliant 👍🦈🦈

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks so much. I am pleased to hear you enjoyed my video.
Cheers, Phil

[@jimseaman2558]

Excellent pattern. Never thought about sequin pins! Wow, excellent idea. I was regularly breaking my thread with the cut straight pins. Thank you!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed my video and found it helpful.
Cheers, Phil.

[@ronbethueser6871]

Thanks for video. I’m going to write down this recipe and put your name and video beside this to refer later

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks for taking the time to place your comment.
I hope you find my video helpful.
Cheers ,Phil

[@fisherguy]

I've been skeptical about jumping on the balanced bandwagon but Doug's friend schooled us in June with a balanced leech. Gonna hafta tie some up this winter.
Thanks for posting the links.
(I still hate dubbing loops BTW...) 😉

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Will. Great to hear from you. Balanced Leeches are of my favourite stillwater patterns. They really work well or times. You have to get the proportions right so they suspend properly.
Thanks, Phil

[@TR-bw1lx]

Awwwesomme! Thanks Phil!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks so much. I am pleased to hear you enjoyed my video. I hope you found the content helpful.
Cheers, Phil

[@davidhart6900]

Thank you Again Phil
This pattern is very Awesome; I can’t wait to try it when I go to the lake
With my vet buddies from Healing Waters here in Washington-:)
Tkcare David 😊

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks David for your kind words and for supporting our veterans.
Cheers, Phil.

[@davidhart6900]

Phil
I noticed you made a big hit with the people in Calgary, Alberta; where I purchased some hooks

[@kenb4685]

Gidday Phil. Great tutorial, very helpful tips. I havent tied this fly yet but will give it a go. Thankyou.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks. I am pleased to hear you enjoyed the video.
Cheers, Phil

[@raymondmichaellarkin6455]

Brilliant, cheers Phil.

[@Boon-ie1rq]

Alternatively, You can also use a mono straight about 30-60lbs instead of a pin, burn the tip to create a bulge to prevent the bead from sliding off. That's what I would do if I didn't have the proper size pins or couldn't find my pins 😅.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Absolutely, mono makes a great sequin or straight-pin substitution. I will make a point of demonstrating that method in a future video.
Cheers, Phil

[@TightLinesNW]

Good stuff as always Phil.
Interesting that you are moving towards hot spot beads.
I recently fished a beautiful sub alpine lake here in WA with wild (can't say native) Browns and Cutthroat. I assumed these fish wanted the most natural looking bug possible. They did for the first couple days.
Day 3 however a florescent orange bead pine squirrel leech was what they wanted.
Interesting flip.
Thanks for sharing!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Jason,
Yes, fluorescent beads are creeping more and more into many of my patterns.
Keep up the great work on your channel too.
Cheers, Phil

[@scotmclellan5190]

Thanks Phil. Going to stock up on a few of these. Cheers

[@SiuslawOR]

Very good video, well filmed and detailed explanations 👍👍
Have you tried tying this pattern on #6 hooks for steelhead indicator nymphing?

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed the video. I have yet to tie this pattern to larger sizes, but there is no reason why it wouldn't work. When using balanced flies for stillwaters, I try not to make them too heavy as they become challenging to cast with the slender, level leaders we use.
Cheers, Phil

[@ColorMyHairIs]

Hi Phil, I'm new to fly tying. Thanks for all your great videos. I don't know if you've shown how to figure out where to tie in the sequin pin to make sure the balanced fly stays balanced in the water. I have found that if it is balanced when it is dry, the head sinks when it is wet. I was wondering if you can balance it with the hook and bead tied on without any material. Does the material you tie on change the balance? I hope I have explained this properly. Thanks again

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

HI, thanks for the kind words regarding my videos. I am pleased to hear you find them helpful.
I did cover pin placement in this video. Regardless of the fly size and bead size, I always secure the sequin pin in place so the space between the rear of the bead and the hook eye can fit two more beads.
The materials you use do have an impact on the final balance of the fly. When balanced dry the a leech pattern should tip toward the tail. Once the tail gets wet it will cause the fly to tip horizontally due to the naturally bouyant nature of marabou.
Please keep in mind that the pattern doesn't have to balance perfectly. When suspended under an indicator the natural surface chaop will cause the fly to pitch and udulate like a natural leech or minnow.
I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions at all please don't hesitate to ask.
Cheers, Phil

[@brianfeeney9493]

That’s a BEAUT , EH !!!!!!!
Merci 🎉
💫🎣💫

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks. I am glad you enjoyed the video, Eh! 😃
Cheers, Phil

[@brianfeeney9493]

Thank You Phil …… Super Enjoy Your Tutelage 🎉 YEAH EH 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@ega22]

Any particular reason you changed hooks from the 90 degree mustad hook? Wondering if availability is a factor, they seem harder to find these days.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Although the 90 Mustads worked well the Daiichi hooks are a stouter hook and tend to perform better with larger fish.
Whether the hook is 90 or 60 degree doesn’t matter so long as the hook eye is above the body so you can tie the fly on your leader.
I hope this explains my hook change.
Cheers, Phil.

[@JAL94]

What size of sequin pin are you using? I’m seeing them in #8-#12 available

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

For #10 and smaller balanced flies I use #8 sequin pins. I get them at Michael’s. Here is a link to their site, canada.michaels.com/en/search?q=Sequin%20pins

[@brianfleury5935]

Tying some for Cape Cod kettle ponds today. This pattern looks it may be terrific as a clam/cinder worm imitation for striped bass. The fly below has been a good pattern for me. It is 100% SLF dubbing. The tail is the dubbing loop doubled over. I often fished this under an indicator (CorkQ). The natural worms are 1-2" long and the swim about aggressively in the top foot or so.
th-cam.com/video/EtdL6sP8vSo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=zcCRGsouJaI4zuEs

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Brian,
You could easily adapt this pattern to suggest a cinder worm. Please let me know how you do.
Cheers, Phil.

[@akintomeatloaf]

Let it rip at 11:37

[@monicabright9395]

🙋 "Promo sm"