Leeches may be gross, but leech flies catch fish. Here’s what you need to know

Few creatures tap into deep-seated human aversions like leeches. Their slimy, slithery appearance, combined with the idea they’ll feed on your very lifeblood, is enough to squick out anyone. Fish, however, heartily disagree. To them, leeches offer a readily available, easy-to-catch mouthful of boneless protein. On top of that, the undulating way leeches move is a natural strike trigger, leading gamefish such as trout, bass, walleye and pike to happily and unhesitatingly gobble them up. Here’s what all that means for fly anglers.