Bodkin / Patterns

Bead Back Scud

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Curved scud/pupa hook, 14-18
  • Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

  • Weight Lead-free (6-8 turns fine wire underbody)
  • Body Olive-gray scud dubbing (Shaggy pinch)
  • Back (Shellback) Clear/pearl scud back or thin skin (Strip of small glass seed beads on wire)
  • Rib Silver metal tape (Fine wire)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lay a thread base; wrap 6-8 turns of fine lead-free wire around the mid-shank and cover it with thread.
  2. Bind in the fine silver rib and a length of wire pre-strung with clear seed beads at the bend, the beads form the segmented dorsal shell.
  3. Dub a fat, shaggy olive-gray body from bend to eye, tapering slightly at each end so the fly keeps its comma shape.
  4. Pull the strung-bead strip flat over the top and bind it down at the eye.
  5. Counter-wrap the silver rib forward in 5-6 evenly spaced turns to segment the body and lock the shellback, then snip.
  6. Pick out dubbing along the belly for legs, build a small head, and whip finish.

Tying videos

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