Keith,

I'm Bill Warner that's the "aka Bill W" part of the e-handle. The zen leecher part was originally a joke.

I had one of the Kaufman's managers give me that leech tip back in the 80's. I didn't try it as I thought it was hoo-hah. Didn't see how one could not respond to a strike (actually a nip) and throw slack line at it. Seemed totally opposite of the correct response.

Had a trip up in BC where the fish were pounding leeches. 5 solid straight days of it and I had some problems with nippers. Kept missing them. Finally I decided to try Wally's tip of throwing slack line at them, waiting about 2 seconds and raising the rod tip. They were there 100% of the time. Wally's thought was the fish were nipping at the leeches in an attempt to get them to ball up. He thought the fish then ate the leeches when they were balled up. Worked for me when I tried it.

Also did it at some central WA lakes down here during the leech months.

I mostly had that happen when I'd fish the larger leeches, say a #4, 4xl hook with a fairly long marabou tail.

I fish most of my leeches on a #8 3 or 4xl hook and tie them from #6 to #12. I also like a #10 3xl maroon mini leech. That's a go-to fly for me when the fish are playing hard to get.

Bead heads on buggers do give woolly buggers an up and down leech type action that's a fish attractor.

You probably already know that.

Cheney???? You probably are a closet coug fan, aren't you???

I have two fly boxes that are just about all leech imitations and woolly buggers. Do have some clousers and some floating and sinking dragons in there, but 80% of those flies are leech/buggers of various sizes and colors.