Stinger Hooks on streamers

[Luke]

I'm working on some sculpin patterns and was wondering if stinger hooks were legal on flies in Taneycomo. Being that you can use treble hooks and hardware, I wouldn't think it would be illegal, but I couldn't find definitive answer.

Also, anyone know the typical size of a sculpin in Taney?

[Gavin]

It should be just fine on Taney. Guess most sculpins run in the 2-3" range, but I've seen some up to 5-6" long. Cheers.

[Luke]

The 2-3 inch range should be pretty easy to do, but I'm going to have to come up with some different materials for a 5-6 inch one. I don't want to have to bring a 9 or 10 wt just to chuck huge flies, though it might be useful if one hooked a giant trout.

Guess I'll go look for some sculpiny looking materials that don't absorb water.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

It's not a true sculpin pattern but I've used a wool head leech for the same and I've had pretty good luck with it. I use olive/brown magnum rabbit strips for the body and brown wool for the head. Here's the link to the website for the pattern

www.warmwaterflytyer.com

John

[Luke]

John - That's about what I'm making. The modifications that I am making are:

1. Color - It needs to look more sculpinish
   
2. Snag Resistant - I'm either going to use dumbell eyes or a few beads (Bouncer Style) to make it ride with the hook point up
   
3. Stinger hook - I'll probably use a short piece 20 lb. mono to attach to a stinger hook, also with the hook point up
   
4. Eyes - I'm going to put some eyes on the top of the wool head, just need to figure out how to attach them
   
5. Egg - I think I'm going to make some egg sucking sculpins too
   

Any other modification suggestions?

[Gavin]

Synthetics are the way to go for big flies. Lots of materials like bozo hair, ultra hair, etc. can add length and they dont absorb a ton of water like rabbit. A fly similar to a wool head string leach might fill the bill nicely. I usually use 30lb braid to attach the Gamakasu Octopus stinger hook on string leaches. Cheers.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

[*]Eyes - I'm going to put some eyes on the top of the wool head, just need

Any other modification suggestions?

You might try the stick on type eyes on the wool head. Use a buring type tool to make an indention in the wool and then use "goop" to cement it down. You might also look at using the bead chain type of eyes as well.

Hope this helps.

John

[Luke]

Thank you Gavin and John for your suggestions. I really appreciate it.