Bodkin / Patterns

Sow Bug

Nymph · Trout · Beginner · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Scud/curved, 14-18
  • Thread Gray 8/0

Materials

  • Body Gray dubbing with guard hairs (flat)
  • Shellback Clear plastic (over body)
  • Rib Fine wire (4 inches)

How to tie it

  1. Mount hook, tie in the shellback strip and wire rib at the bend.
  2. Dub a gray body with plenty of guard hairs, and keep it FLAT and wide rather than round; sow bugs are flattened top to bottom, and that's what separates this from a scud.
  3. Pull the shellback over, counter-wrap the rib in 5 turns.
  4. Pick out the dubbing along both sides for legs.
  5. Whip finish.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of Gray dubbing with guard hairs: Gray Sow Scud dubbing — Purpose-built for this; Muskrat dubbing — Natural gray with guard hairs
  • Shellback instead of Clear plastic: Clear Scud Back — Standard scud/sow bug shellback; Thin Skin (clear) — More durable

Tying videos

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