After reading one of the posts about how some fish sucds and have little success, I thought I’d offer a few observations about tying. Standard curved nymph hooks like the TMC 2487 (or for a sturdier hook the TMC2457) is the place to start. Weight it with some lead wraps, use an orange tying thread, and the tail is optional. I have used rabbit fur, squirrel tail, and k. flash. I’m not sure that it matters. Tie in your copper ribbing wire, then about 6-8 strands of flashabou. Dub your scud: I like amber colored hare’s ear or UV Ice Dub (I’m starting to tie more with Ice Dub – great lookinng stuff). Twist the strand into a rope and pull forward as this imitates somewhat of a shellback and gives your fly some flash. Tie it down well and then rib your nymph with the wire. Tie it off and build up and build up a head, glue it, and you’re done. Three minutes start to finish once you have your bench set up to tie a few dozen.
Fishing wise, I can’t stress enough to get this fly down…I mean really down as scuds are near the bottom or on it their entire life cycle. I almost always fish a trailer with it. This time of year it’s a midge or a small PT. Later on it culd be an emerger (BWO or caddis for example)
