ZL-- You can never rag on me about being a Coug fan... my alma mater was UofM--go Grizzlies! truth be told, though, I spent more time fishing the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Rock Creek than I did attending football games. The only mistake I made was only attending UM two years-- but the fishing! Don't get me started. That's where I "invented" my leech after opening up a brookie in February and finding one in its gut.

Thanks for the info on your choices of sizes, and colors for that matter. I've always liked the red/black/brown colors for leeches, although I haven't fished them enough. I also like the mini leech idea as well. That pattern is next on my list for early season tying. Currently, I'm trying to work up a convincing "snow worm" pattern for the runoff period in Cushman as well as some of the other snow-fed lakes around here. The midges that flowed down the Skok in the spring would bring every trout and kokanee into a small area, and the action was unbelievable. Of course, that was a while ago, but I'm betting that it's still happening. The snow worms were midge larvae, and they were red in color (probably what is called bloodworm now). I'm betting your red mini-leech or some variation will be just what the doctor ordered.

Thanks for the info,

Keith