do steelies pick up the egg-sucking leaches. i know that the big rainbows will.

They are an excellent choice for winter steelheading. Marabou patterns in general are good choices, and the egg sucking leach with its pulsating marabou tail is a fine derivitive of a basic marabou pattern. I use different variations of the pattern depending on the situation at hand. Weighted, they lend themselves well to being fished under an indicator. Unweighted and swung behind a heavy mini-tip or sink tip they are a fine choice for conventional down and across methods. If you buy into the theory that color contrast entices strikes then this pattern has it. Myself, I believe the combination of the colors coupled with great movement makes this effective for steelies.

Heck they will!! That's what I caught my first one on last Friday. And I caught my second on this past week! No kidding.... Good fishing to you.

Darin