Deadly Stillwater Pattern | Vampire Mini Leech

The Vampire Mini Leech has become one of my favorite micro, mini, or baby leech patterns. Although it performs throughout the season it really shines in early spring or late fall when trout actively patrol the shallows. The hi-vis fluorescent chartreuse bead also makes it an excellent depth water pattern too.
When suspending this pattern beneath an indicator be sure to use a clinch or improved clinch knot to attach the fly to encourage it to suspend in a horizontal manner.
Vampire Mini Leech
Hook: Daiichi 4640, #12
Thread: Black
Tail: Schlappen Marabou, Black Mixed With Two Strands of Crystal Flash, Red
Body: Brill, 5 MM, Black
Bead: Tungsten Head Turner Bead (THT) 7/64” (3.0 MM), Fl. Chartreuse
Material Sources:
Daiichi 4640 Hook: www.canadianll...
Black Schlappen: www.chinookwin...
Crystal Flash-Red:www.chinookwin...
7/64" (3.0 MM) Tungsten Head Turner Bead (THT), Fl. Chartreuse: www.canadianll...
Brill, 5 MM, Black: www.canadianll...
Solarez Bone Dry UV Resin: www.chinookwin...
Keeping In Touch
Website: flycraftangling...
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Twitter: / flycraftphil

[@RandyFreedom]

Thanks Phil! It was good meeting you at the BC outdoor show the other day! This pattern is responsible for catching my personal best rainbow trout and personal best Bull trout in the same day!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks.
Great to see you too. I am pleased to hear that this fly helped you catch your personal best fish.
Cheers, Phil

[@hankvana2149]

Nice fly Phil, I use a lot of small leech patterns. I'm old enough to (fondly) remember the original Munsters TV show. I live in a rural area and have a pair of ravens that have been nesting on my property for years. Named them Gomez and Morticia. Gomez and I exchange gifts (bits of colorful plastic, buttons, shiny coins) regularly and he has been kind enough to leave me a couple of primary feathers which make excellent ribs/bodies on daiwl-bach nymphs. Cheers!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Hank,
Thanks for taking the time to reach out. I am pleased to hear you enjoyed the video. A great story regarding Gomez and Morticia! :)
Cheers, Phil

[@ernieflynn5124]

Love the simplicity of this fly, excellent instruction as always, thanks Phil.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Ernie, I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed my video.
Cheers, Phil

[@jonathanstahnke5375]

Great Leech. I like the Eddie Munster reference too

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Jonathan, it is just a pet name I gave to the fly as I recalled the Munsters TV series.
Cheers, Phil

[@billgouge6986]

Great looking fly and nice information on how to tie it to the tippet under an indicator!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Bill, glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful.
Cheers, Phil

[@marcwatkins6784]

I love this "Eddie Munster" fly. I'm going to tie some to use as droppers in still water.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Marc, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed my video. This pattern worked particularly well for me this past fall. It works great both as a dropper and point fly.
Cheers, Phil

[@ruebdogg1]

Phil, this fly rocks! Tore it up on some stillwater hogs recently. Cheap, easy, and hooks fish. Well done, bravo amigo!!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks, that’s great to hear.
Please thank the fly’s originator, Todd Oishi. All I did was tweak it a bit and downsize it.
Cheers, Phil

[@ruebdogg1]

@@PhilRowleyFlyFishing Phil, stayin’ classy. Will do 😎

[@shannonsmith8125]

Thanks for the video Phil, learned a ton from you and Jordan in the Stillwater Academy. Just about finished my first season fishing the flies I have tied now. Will add this one to the winter list, Cheers Rob

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Shannon for your kind words and for signing for the 21 Days program. Happy tying over the winter months.
Cheers, Phil

[@danlim3763]

Sweet tie ... now I have to get me some of those beads
Thanks for sharing

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Dan, they are great beads with a number of different uses.
Cheers, Phil

[@travisskinner4615]

Awesome looking fly Phil

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Travis, I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed this video.
Cheers, Phil

[@huntermayer3999]

Always excited to have another pattern up on offer from Phil Rowley! 🙌

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

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

[@geoffjansen99]

Love this pattern! Deadly this time of year!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Geoff, it definitely is a great pattern.
Cheers, Phil

[@garrettgrubisa5424]

Beauty leech! Thanks for the tying video!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Garrett, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed the video. It has become one of my favourite fall patterns. It also works well throughout the season too.
Cheers, Phil

[@jessleboe9575]

Gotta get my hands on these beads! Canadian Llama always has the best, cheers for the video, looking forward to tying a few of my own!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Jess, they are a great product with a number of different applications. I will be providing a focused Facebook/TH-cam Live event on them this Thursday, November 4th starting at 7:30 PM MT.
Cheers, Phil

[@loganross8544]

Fantastic fly to use

[@mikeberube3321]

Awesome fly. Thanks for sharing.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Mike, I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Cheers, Phil

[@waynejansen3116]

I use brill quite often for leech patterns, very good material for that application.
Thanks Phil, nice effective pattern

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Wayne, it is definitely a great material with a number of applications.
Cheers, Phil

[@OpportunityFishing]

I'm definitely going to get some of those beads! I have been tying jig and balanced leeches with a chartreuse hot spot (Ostrich herl) for quite some time. Excellent not only for trout, but Crappie and Perch as well!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Balanced and jig flies are great for a number of species. I have had good success using them for walleye and bass too.
Cheers, Phil

[@brewerbutler9588]

Love your flies. All have been absolute killers on my Montana stillwaters. It seems the simpler they are the better they work!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks for the kind words Brewer. I am pleased to hear that my flies have been working on your local waters. I am looking forward to heading down your way once again in 2022.
Cheers, Phil

[@kodyryan4773]

Love this fly

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Kody.
Cheers Phil.

[@lorenirving8230]

Brilliant as they say! Thanks so much Phil sharing this little pattern. Right down my alley, simple and a new style bead that I can't wait to try out. I'll probably use the Double Davy as the knot, one that I have been using last few years on everything including steelhead. Bit stronger and smaller. Winter is here now so can't try this pattern out for a while but you can bet I a going to have a bunch of these in couple colors but with that Chartreuse cool bead on the front. Thanks again
Loren

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Loren, Todd certainly created a great, simple, pattern. A Double Davy would be a great knot as is a Z Knot. As long as you can cinch it against the hook eye so it suspends more or less horizontally. Hot orange and fl. pink bead versions also work well.
Cheers, Phil

[@tyrellosterud7788]

You’re the man Phil 🤘

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Tyrell, just paying it forward. 😀
Cheers, Phil

[@craigmcdonald7916]

Great! Another type of bead I need. My wife sends her thanks.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Sorry Craig, I guess there are worse things you could be buying.
Cheers, Phil

[@russcarlson1702]

Good stuff Phil. Will try this one soon for sure.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Russ, glad you enjoyed the video.
Cheers, Phil

[@yoopermann7942]

i dont know about using this on TROUT, it looks like it would be a better BLUE GILL lure to me, this is a whole lot easier to tie by the looks of it,, thank you for the tips,,, just subscribed

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi, unfortunately, I don't have any bluegill or other panfish in my local lakes. I have however had some great results using baby or micro leech patterns on bluegill, crappie even bass. Give my M & M Leech a try too. It worked well on a trip I took to Michigan a few years ago.
Cheers, Phil

[@roddeboer6085]

Looks great. Look forward to tying it.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Rod,
Cheers, Phil

[@elliotbrass9722]

Looks killer Phil. Great job once again! Ynwa!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Elliot, I am glad you liked it.
Cheers, Phil

[@reserrvoirman]

Thanks for sharing Phil, looks like a killer for sure. Appreciate you sharing your secrets with us.

[@tommcphail8138]

Great fly, love brill👍

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Tom, it is a great material with a range of different uses.
Cheers, Phil

[@patrickmarshall544]

Balanced flies are my recent favorites , thanks Phil! I've caught fish in lakes because of your videos

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Patrick, I am pleased to hear that my videos have helped you enjoy more success on the water.
Cheers, Phil

[@joshsalazar6943]

Definitely putting some of these in my box 🤙🏽

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Josh, I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Cheers, Phil

[@cordeliushultberg9075]

This fly looks great! Hopefully it can help turn around the fall fishing for me in the Edmonton area. Those pothole trouts have still got me beat...

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks, good thing there are lots of patterns that work around our Edmonton area lakes.
Cheers, Phil

[@CAAnglerman]

Great fly 👍🏻

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

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

[@johnrowe8873]

Great beads.

[@ericmessinger9663]

Great job. Nice job

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Eric!

[@edboutdoors3632]

Apsalotally love the video and that fly worked super well when I was with ya!!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks, Ethan it was a great day on the water. Sad to say winter is now upon us.
Cheers, Phil

[@edboutdoors3632]

@@PhilRowleyFlyFishing ya lol but ice fishing is here haha!!

[@AkFlyFishersmembers]

Nice fly, Phil. I'll try it on Alaska lakes near Wasilla.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Jolynne, it should work well for you on the lakes in the MatSu region. I have some fond memories of fishing lakes such as Wasilla, Finger, Canoe, and Big.
Cheers, Phil

[@countrydancer55]

Very nice fly. I would love to add a few of these to my fly box. Don’t have anything like it.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Kathy, I am glad to hear that you enjoyed my video. It has proven itself to be a great pattern.
Cheers, Phil

[@gregwheatley1355]

Thank you so much for sharing your "secrets" with us
I'm no master fly tier but....
Here in South Africa I have adapted yr Ballance leech to a damsel type with good success
I'd love to share photos of the proof

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Greg, I am pleased to hear that you are enjoying my videos and most of all find them helpful. I would love to see some of the flies you have created. My email address is [e-mail].
Cheers, Phil

[@ebifisher]

Good job 👏👏👏👏

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks

[@geraldng5330]

Great fly! A fish catcher

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Gerald, we have some good memories fishing it as a larger, balanced, fly.
Cheers, Phil

[@keithbranter817]

I like it. Gonna tie some of these

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

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

[@bradhamilton5025]

Awesome !

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Brad, I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed my video.
Cheers, Phil

[@gerrywarren923]

@@PhilRowleyFlyFishing
Waiting for mail, Head Turner Beads enroute. Mebbe here tomorrow

[@JAL94]

Phil, I’ve been really digging these balanced headturner style patterns! Absolutely deadly in the high alpine lakes in MT/WY. If you were going to tie this pattern or your M&M in a size 14, would you drop to a 5/32 size headturner?

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi,
I am pleased to hear these flies are working well for you. I would use either the 7/64” or 3/32” if you can slide them on the hook.
Cheers Phil.

[@gregking6175]

🧛‍♀️

[@colinmitchell5915]

Thanks for not typing with a pair of scissors in your hand, I found those videos to be very distracting. Nice fly

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Colin, old habits die hard. :)
I still have the scissors in my hand when tying for myself but try to keep them on the table when I am not using them in my videos.
Cheers, Phil

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Colin, I just used a random number generator to determine the winner of a sample Vampire Mini Leech. Your comment was the lucky winner. Please let me know the best way I can send it to you. My email address is [e-mail]
Congratulations. Phil

[@goodtimber3692]

Hey Phil!! Thank you for the video - definitely adding some of these to the box - my children and I love to tie flies and we are twisting up some right now for Halloween! Fun times. Stay well and stay warm!
- @mommaangler

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

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