Bodkin / Patterns

Scud

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 3 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Scud/curved, 14-18
  • Thread Olive or tan 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Hackle fibers (short)
  • Body Dubbing with guard hairs (picked out)
  • Shellback Clear plastic or Scud Back (over body)
  • Rib Fine wire (4 inches)
  • Bead Tungsten bead (1 optional)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the curved hook, tie in a strip of clear Scud Back and the wire rib at the bend, plus a few short hackle fibers as a tail.
  2. Dub a full body of guard-hair-rich dubbing around the curve, plumper than a mayfly nymph.
  3. Pull the shellback over the top and tie down at the head.
  4. Counter-wrap the wire rib in 5-6 turns, segmenting the shell.
  5. Pick out the belly dubbing hard. Those trailing fibers are the scud's many swimming legs.
  6. Whip finish.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of Dubbing with guard hairs: Sow Scud dubbing (olive) — Purpose-made, coarse fibers; Squirrel dubbing (olive) — Natural, spiky; Arizona Simi Seal (olive) — Coarse with flash
  • Shellback instead of Clear plastic or Scud Back: Clear Scud Back — Standard material, easy to find; Thin Skin (clear) — More durable; Clear stretch tubing — Budget alternative
  • Rib instead of Fine wire: Clear mono — Invisible segmentation; Fine copper wire — Adds slight flash

Other versions

2 more in the app: Micro, Beadhead.

Tying videos

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