Scuds, Scuds, And More Scuds

[Leo79928]

Hey guys I am quite new here but have fly fished maramec springs park a couple times each year but I haven't done the best or unlocked my full potential yet. Everytime I go down to maramec springs I always see a ton of trout being caught on scuds. My question is how do you fish them and what colors are good for maramec springs? Some say olive while others say grey. Also would anybody take a pic of a scud dropper or a scud as a trailer...google doesn't seem to help much.

Thanks

Leo

[Danoinark]

Hey guys I am quite new here but have fly fished maramec springs park a couple times each year but I haven't done the best or unlocked my full potential yet. Everytime I go down to maramec springs I always see a ton of trout being caught on scuds. My question is how do you fish them and what colors are good for maramec springs? Some say olive while others say grey. Also would anybody take a pic of a scud dropper or a scud as a trailer...google doesn't seem to help much.

Thanks

Leo

Hi Leo. Fish them "ticking" along the bottom. Scuds dwell in the gravel, and in moss beds. Olive and gray are the standard Ozark stream colors. Pink and orange also work when you see molting scuds.

Dano

[Leo79928]

Hi Leo. Fish them "ticking" along the bottom. Scuds dwell among the gravel, especially moss beds. Olive and gray are the standard Ozark stream colors. Pink and orange also work when you see molting scuds.

Dano

I am really interested in drifting scuds as a dropper. What would be a good length tippet length between the dropper and the first fly.

Thanks

Leo

[Randall]

Here is a link to the easiest pattern.

http://www.taneycomotrout.com/howtotiedubbedscud.html

I generally add one or two #6 shot to get them down. If you fish one as a trailer, I like to tie a 12-14" section of tippet to the hook bend of the lead fly then tie the dropper onto that with no weight in between. Like Dano said, olive or gray will both work. I generally fish gray because that is what I fished first, but it shouldn't matter much, especially in the park. Probably stick with size 14 and 16 for Meramec.

[Danoinark]

I am really interested in drifting scuds as a dropper. What would be a good length tippet length between the dropper and the first fly.

Thanks

Leo

18 to 24 inches would work.

[fishinwrench]

Leo, I've yet to discover one that produces better than the following two...

Wilson's Trout Crack

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TMC 2487 #14-18

Thread: clear mono

Underbody: Sow scud dubbing (.041tan, lt.olive, orange)dub from front to back

Shellback: brown D-rib lashed on top and trimmed.

Pregnant scud

TMC 2487 #12

6/0 tan uni-thread

Tail: tuft of sow scud dubbing (lt.sowbug)

Shellback: 1/8in. scud back (tan)

Body: Sow-Scud dubbing(lt.sowbug )dub from front to back.

Egg sack: Sow-Scud (dead orange)

Rib: tying thread

As for using them as a dropper fly...I don't. I fish them tightline with either a #4 or #1 split-shot, but you can suspend them under a bobber in slower water if you like.

[Leo79928]

Thanks very much for the help and pics. I have been hearing a lot about fishing scud droppers especially at taney where they use #20 bit scuds trailed behined a #20 g-bug but I have never seen either in person, only on charteredwaters website. I brought this topic up considering if it works so well at taney then it would most likely have some success at our trout parks.

[fishinwrench]

Thanks very much for the help and pics. I have been hearing a lot about fishing scud droppers especially at taney where they use #20 bit scuds trailed behined a #20 g-bug but I have never seen either in person, only on charteredwaters website. I brought this topic up considering if it works so well at taney then it would most likely have some success at our trout parks.

During the Winter C&R in the trout parks a #16-18 Trout Crack in "Dead Orange" is absolutely deadly. Plus in clear water you can sight fish it easily, no need to fuss with a dropper rig. Go get'um !

And if you happen to run across any big blue plastic pipes...shove a log, dead muskrat, or whatever is handy in it

[Jack Hollister]

During the Winter C&R in the trout parks a #16-18 Trout Crack in "Dead Orange" is absolutely deadly. Plus in clear water you can sight fish it easily, no need to fuss with a dropper rig. Go get'um !

And if you happen to run across any big blue plastic pipes...shove a log, dead muskrat, or whatever is handy in it

Are these Trout Crack flys a common pattern that you can buy anywhere or are they made by an individual and sold by them. I would like to get a few myself.

[eric1978]

Are these Trout Crack flys a common pattern that you can buy anywhere or are they made by an individual and sold by them. I would like to get a few myself.

TMC 2487 #14-18

Thread: clear mono

Underbody: Sow scud dubbing (.041tan, lt.olive, orange)dub from front to back

Shellback: brown D-rib lashed on top and trimmed.

Vise & Scissors