Bodkin / Patterns

S3 Sculpin

Streamer · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Jig or stinger, 1-4
  • Thread Olive or brown 140D

Materials

  • Weight Sculpin helmet or dumbbell (1)
  • Tail Rabbit strip (full)
  • Body Brushed dubbing or crosscut rabbit (palmered)
  • Fins Hen saddle or rubber (each side)
  • Head Flat sculpin profile (trimmed)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the jig or stinger hook and lash a dumbbell (or set aside the sculpin helmet for last) so the fly rides hook-up. Start olive or brown 140D thread.
  2. Tie in a full rabbit strip at the bend for a tail about one and a half shank lengths long, wet it to see the true swimming length.
  3. Tie in brushed dubbing or a crosscut rabbit strip and palmer it forward to build a full body, sweeping fibers back.
  4. Tie in a hen saddle or rubber fin on each side, splayed to suggest pectoral fins.
  5. Build a flat, wide head of spun/brushed material up front. The flat profile is what keels the fly upright and planes it down on the drop.
  6. If using a sculpin helmet, slide it on now and glue it in place; otherwise trim the dubbing head flat and wide.
  7. Whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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