Bodkin / Patterns

Rainbow Sow Bug

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Curved scud/pupa (e.g. TMC 2457), 14-18
  • Thread Gray or tan 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Scud back / thin skin (shell) Clear scud back thin skin (1 strip)
  • Wire rib Silver or clear mono (fine, 1 strand)
  • Sow/scud dubbing (body) Rainbow (pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread behind the eye and lay a base to the bend; a few flattened turns of lead top and bottom help, since sowbugs are flat.
  2. Tie in a strip of clear scud-back and a length of fine wire at the bend, both pointing back.
  3. Dub a flat, slightly bulging body of rainbow sow dubbing forward to behind the eye.
  4. Pull the scud-back over the top as a shell and lock it behind the eye.
  5. Rib forward with 4-5 evenly spaced turns of wire over the shell for segmentation, then helical-lock and break off.
  6. Pick the dubbing out along the sides and underneath for legs, trim the top flat, then whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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