Balanced Leech Olive

The Balanced Leech Olive imitates the natural coloration of many freshwater leeches, which often display olive, brown-green, or mottled tones—especially when drifting or swimming in light-penetrated shallows. The balanced design allows the fly to suspend horizontally, matching the natural posture of a leech as it pulses through the water. The olive coloration is particularly effective in clear lakes or during bright conditions, where a darker silhouette might appear too stark. When retrieved with slow strips or subtle twitches, the Balanced Leech Olive convincingly imitates the sinuous, undulating motion of a real leech—an irresistible meal for stillwater trout.

History
As part of the broader Balanced Leech family, the Olive Balanced Leech stems from the same stillwater innovation that revolutionized indicator fishing. Developed and popularized by lake anglers such as Phil Rowley and other Pacific Northwest stillwater specialists, the balanced method solved the problem of leech patterns hanging unnaturally from indicators. By shifting the weighted bead forward on a pin, the fly maintains a perfectly level orientation in the water. Olive variations soon emerged as anglers sought colors that better matched the natural hues of leeches in many lakes and reservoirs. Over time, the olive version became a go-to pattern—especially in clearer waters—earning a permanent place in modern stillwater fly boxes.