On longer excursions where I am traveling more, I don't bring live bait. Here are a few of the hand-tied leech patterns my brother makes for me to use instead of the real leeches. The rabbit fur really creates nice movement underwater. They worked great last year and I can't wait to let 'em swim again!


What is your favorite way to imitate live bait?

I have never understood feather or fur jigs (although I have used both with success) as they look and act completely different when wet.

I’ve used these fly fishing quite a bit, and I’m always amazed at how alive they look. I never thought of using them for Spinning gear.

They look great!

I really like those bunny fur leach patterns. Another one is a articulated lure for Pike called Mikes meal ticket.

I'd go with black/orange to imitate leeches/crayfish or anything chartreuse for baitfish.

"Ain't no use if it ain't chartreuse!"

nooneuno: "I have never understood feather or fur jigs (although I have used both with success) as they look and act completely different when wet."

Dry they catch fishermen, wet they catch fish.

I'm trying to modify a topwater mouse pattern (joe Cermele's master splinter) that's basically the same thing with a foam head and body so my brother in law can cast it with a spinning rod.

Top-water frog or mouse would be my favorite imitators. Never had much success with them but really love the retrieval.

They make a small poly or some sort of "head" you can put on existing flies to make them more castable but not affect the action too much.

I still take real leeches if possible

Has anybody tried to fish these behind bottom bouncers and spinners?

amhacker22: "I’ve used these fly fishing quite a bit, and I’m always amazed at how alive they look. I never thought of using them for Spinning gear.


They look great!"

Thanks, Amhacker! Hopefully I can post a few pics of successful catches. :)

Savage Voyageur: "I really like those bunny fur leach patterns. Another one is a articulated lure for Pike called Mikes meal ticket. "

The ones by Orvis? Yes, very good pattern as well. I'll see if I can get my brother to do a batch before I head out this spring, er, summer! Thanks for the compliment, Savage Voyageur.

ericinely: "I'd go with black/orange to imitate leeches/crayfish or anything chartreuse for baitfish.


"Ain't no use if it ain't chartreuse!""

Agreed, Ericinely! I've got some really cool fire-tiger crawdads in the works that I'll post soon. Hadn't thought about doing leeches in the pattern but makes excellent sense.

casualbriday: "

nooneuno: "I have never understood feather or fur jigs (although I have used both with success) as they look and act completely different when wet."

Dry they catch fishermen, wet they catch fish.

I'm trying to modify a topwater mouse pattern (joe Cermele's master splinter) that's basically the same thing with a foam head and body so my brother in law can cast it with a spinning rod. "

Casualbriday...those look great! A little weight under the foam so they still float and those'll be fun on the top water! Post a pic when you get a chance!

cyclones30: "They make a small poly or some sort of "head" you can put on existing flies to make them more castable but not affect the action too much.


I still take real leeches if possible "

I'll have to look into the poly head, cyclones. These leeches have a weighted head and some weigh 1/8 oz, some 1/6, and a few 1/4 oz.

Agreed...real leeches work better whenever possible. I just can't take 'em when I solo and cover distance.

greywolf33: "Has anybody tried to fish these behind bottom bouncers and spinners?"

For sure, greywolf. We SLOW troll these with bottom bouncers when it is windy. Have caught walleyes consistently with that approach and I'm thinking it might even work for a laker this year...we'll at least give it a try.

YetiJedi: "

Savage Voyageur: "I really like those bunny fur leach patterns. Another one is a articulated lure for Pike called Mikes meal ticket. "

The ones by Orvis? Yes, very good pattern as well. I'll see if I can get my brother to do a batch before I head out this spring, er, summer! Thanks for the compliment, Savage Voyageur."

Yes those were from Orvis. They look big but when they hit the water they slim down.

Another great lure is a Crazy Charlie. I think it is made for bonefish and tarpon but they work great for Smallmouths too. It has a barbell weight in the front to get it down fast and feathers that wave in the current.

Then there is the minnow imitation form Cabellas sells. They are made of all feathers and the look streamlined like a minnow.

Savage Voyageur: "

YetiJedi: "

Savage Voyageur: "I really like those bunny fur leach patterns. Another one is a articulated lure for Pike called Mikes meal ticket. "

The ones by Orvis? Yes, very good pattern as well. I'll see if I can get my brother to do a batch before I head out this spring, er, summer! Thanks for the compliment, Savage Voyageur."

Yes those were from Orvis. They look big but when they hit the water they slim down.


Another great lure is a Crazy Charlie. I think it is made for bonefish and tarpon but they work great for Smallmouths too. It has a barbell weight in the front to get it down fast and feathers that wave in the current.


Then there is the minnow imitation form Cabellas sells. They are made of all feathers and the look streamlined like a minnow. "

The crawdad pattern I like has a barbell weight on the front of the hook (tail of the crawdad) to get them down quickly. The barbell also serves to have the front of the crawdad stick up and wave the claws in the current. Great action on the retrieve too. I'll post a few pics soon.

I found some 1/8oz jigs with really long hook shanks and no keeper so I spun up a couple last night (top left, bottom right - the other two are made with craft fur and feathers with a bit of flash).

casualbriday: "


I found some 1/8oz jigs with really long hook shanks and no keeper so I spun up a couple last night (top left, bottom right - the other two are made with craft fur and feathers with a bit of flash)."

Very nice! Fish'll like those just fine!

YetiJedi: "

casualbriday: "

nooneuno: "I have never understood feather or fur jigs (although I have used both with success) as they look and act completely different when wet."

Dry they catch fishermen, wet they catch fish.


I'm trying to modify a topwater mouse pattern (joe Cermele's master splinter) that's basically the same thing with a foam head and body so my brother in law can cast it with a spinning rod. "

Casualbriday...those look great! A little weight under the foam so they still float and those'll be fun on the top water! Post a pic when you get a chance!"

1st attempt after float test (it passed!). I just wrapped the whole hook shank with lead free wire, folded both ends of the foam back over the body and tied on a little extra piece right before I whip finished it. I think it might be 1/16oz when all the hair is soaked.