Scud

Gray-Olive Scud , Light

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Tying Instructions

1. Attach the hook to the vise and wrap 8-10 times over the shank with .010 lead wire. Keep the wire centered on the shank.

2. Attach the thread behind the eye of the hook and build up a tapered dam of thread in front of the wire wraps. Wrap the thread over the wire wraps and create another tapered thread dam behind the wire wraps ending at the bend of the hook where you want the body to start.

3. Clip a number of Mallard Flank fibers, keeping the tips even. Attach the tips at the tail tie down postion where the body will start. I say “Tail” but these fibers acutally represent the antennae. Secure the Mallard Fibers along the top of the wire wraps and trim off the tag.

4. Attach the monofilament to the bottom of the hook shank under the wire wraps and secure up to the tail tie-in position.

5. Cut a point to the Scudback material. Attach the point of the scudback to the top of the wire wraps and secure with thread wraps to the Tail tie-in position.

6.Wrap the thread forward to the front of the wire wraps and attach a strand of thin pearlescent tinsel to the top of the wraps and secure down to the base of the body.

7. Apply the scud dubbing to the thread with a twisting motion around the thread. Push the dubbing up the thread until it just touches the hook shank.

8.Wrap the dubbed thread around the base of the hook shank just one time to lock in the fibers. Now you can twist a little more firmly to achieve a thin noodle of dubbing.

9. Wrap the dubbed noodle forward creating a tapered body and ending behind the eye, leaving some room to secure more materials behind the eye.

10. Bring the Pearlescent Tinsel over the back of the body and secure the tag end just behind the eye. Trim off the tag end of the tinsel and apply thread wraps to secure.

11. Now, bring the scudback over the back of the dubbed body and secure that tag end behind the eye. Notice that the Tinsel underneath represent the blood vessel you see on the naturals.

12. Finally, Spiral-wrap the monofilament forward about 6 times creating a segmented body. Pull down on the monofilament on each wrap to push the scudback into the dubbing for a good segment. Trim off the tag ends of monofilament and scudback.

13. Apply a Whip Finish and trim off the thread.

14. Use a section of velcro to catch the dubbing strands below the scudback and pull them out for legs.

15. Do some trimming and this should be your finished scud. The Rainbow Scud Light Shade dubbing adds an element of color to the pattern with some reds, blues, and golds intermixed.

Materials to Order Material, click the link
Hook	TMC 2457 #16-20
Thread	Veevus 14/0 Gray
Weight	0.015 Leadfree wire
Body	Light Shade Rainbow Scud Dub
Shellback	Gray Scud Back with Pearl Flashabou underneath
Antennae	Mallard Flank fibers, Natural
Ribbing	Monofilament

Randall Kaufmann

Scud

Scuds can be found in both lakes and streams. A scud is an aquatic crustacean with two pair of antennae, jointed legs, and visible segments along the abdomen. The pattern is generally attributed to Randall Kaufmann and is featured in his book “Tying Nymphs“. Randall mentions using the scuds for Golden Trout within the lakes of the John Muir Wilderness near French Canyon, which is just west of Bishop at 11,000′. Scuds are also very prevalent within Hot Creek as they prefer slow to moderate currents and plenty of aquatic vegetation.

Presentation

Large scuds of size 8-14 are usually Gammarus, whereas the smaller scuds of 16-20 are Hyalella. Generally, scuds should be fished with an indicator in slow-moving waters near banks and vegetation. Inspecting weedbeds along the shoreline will usually indicate the size and color of the scuds that are present. Most of the feeding of scuds take place beneath the surface and throughout the water column. Scuds are present year-round but Sierran trout tend to feed upon Hyaella scuds exclusively just before winter in sizes 16-18. It is also suspected that scuds play a major diet for the trout while overwintering in iced-over conditions.

Tailwaters and Spring Creeks

You tend to find more scuds in tailwaters and spring creeks, such as the Upper Owens and East Walker. Also look at the weedy edges along our Sierran lakes as the scuds will usually be present in water less than 15 feet deep. Try Gray-Olive, Tan, and Fluorescent Orange. Most of your natural scuds will be gray-olive. You might find Orange scuds within the trout’s stomach in which these were Gray-Olive scuds that turned Orange while being digested within the trout. Orange scuds also work well in the Spring when run-off brings dead scuds into the water column.

Parasites

When scuds molt, they tend to turn a tan coloration just before molting. Trout will key on these tan colorations as the shell is soft and easier to eat. Another trigger coloration is when the scud gets infected by a parasite called, Acanthocephalan. The parasite is orange in color and is often ingested by scuds. The parasite takes residence in the middle of the scuds back and matures into an orange spot recognized by trout. For some odd reason the parasite also alters the scuds behavior so that it is attracted to light when disturbed and flees to the surface. Not a really good idea when confronted by a trout. Scuds can be weighted either with lead wraps around the hook shank or with Beads.

Gray/Olive Scud, Dark

Hook	TMC 2457 #16-20
Thread	Veevus 14/0 Olive
Weight	0.015 Leadfree wire
Body	Dark Shade Rainbow Scud Dub
Shellback	Gray Scud Back with Pearl Flashabou underneath
Antennae	Mallard Flank fibers, Natural
Ribbing	Monofilament

Beadhead Tan Scud

Hook	TMC 2457, #14-20
Thread	Veevus 14/0 Tan
Weight	Gold Brass Bead
Body	Olive Dun Haretron
Shellback	Clear Scud Back
Legs	Palmered Orange Grizzly Hackle
Antennae	Tan Antron Yarn fibers
Tail	Tan Antron Yarn fibers

Beadhead Orange Scud

Hook	TMC 2457 #14-20
Thread	Veevus 12/0 Fl. Orange
Weight	3/32 Metallic Red Tungsten Bead
Body	Hot Orange Angora Goat
Shellback	Orange Scud Back with Pearl Flashabou underneath
Antennae	Red Hackle Fibers
Ribbing	Monofilament

Infected Scud

Hook	TMC 2457 #14-20
Thread	Veevus 14/0 Tan
Body	Kiley Nymph Skin, Natural Latex
Shellback	Loon UV Fly Finish, Thick
Antennae	Tan Antron Yarn fibers
Legs	Ostrich Herl, Tan
Infection Spot	Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Metallic Red