Scud

Materials

How to Tie the Scud

1. 1

   Step 1

   Mount curved scud hook in vise. Optionally wrap lead wire on the shank for weight. Start thread and secure the wire.

   The curved hook mimics the natural curled posture of a scud.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Tie in a few short hackle fibers at the bend for the tail. Tie in the copper wire for ribbing at the same point.

   Scud tails are very short—just a few fibers.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie in a strip of Scud Back or clear plastic at the bend on top of the shank.

   Cut the shellback material to about 1.5x the hook gap width.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Dub a full, cigar-shaped body from the bend to behind the eye using Sow-Scud dubbing. The body should be fattest in the middle.

   Keep the dubbing slightly loose—you'll pick it out later.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Pull the shellback strip forward over the top of the dubbed body. Tie down securely behind the eye.

   Stretch the shellback slightly for a smooth appearance.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Counter-wrap the wire ribbing forward in 5-6 evenly spaced turns over the shellback. Tie off and helicopter-trim the wire.

   Ribbing segments the body and secures the shellback.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Optionally add short antennae at the head. Whip finish and trim. Pick out the dubbing along the underside with a bodkin for legs.

   Picked-out dubbing fibers imitate the scud's many legs.