Simple Scud

[flyman]

Taneycomo Scud

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I see these all over Taneycomo. They are a reproduction of the scud sold at Anglers and Archery.

Dificulty Level: 1

Materials:

Size 16 to 22 scud/shrimp hook

Red 8/0 thread

Tan scud/sow dubbing material

Directions:

1. Start at the rear end of the hook close to the bend. Wrap forward. Stop when close to the eye. Stopping point should be about the width and a half of the eye. Wrap back down to the bend. Clip the tag.

2. Next create a dubbing loop by pulling out about 8 inches of thread. At about half way hold with your finger and wrap once in from and once or twice behind to secure you loop. Wrap back up to the front.

3. Insert your dubbing tool to your loop. Note: You can make one out of a paper clip.

4. Start adding small amounts of dubbing material spinning the dubbing tool as you go. I usually roll the dubbing between my fingers to get it even as I am adding it. This is where you expirriment to get the right length.

5. Once it is fairly even and you have about the right length to wrap the shank. Finish spinning the dubbing loop with the dubbing tool. Not to tight! The tighter you spin it the less hair sticks out and it does not look as life like in my opinion, to loose and you just have a hair ball.

6. Attach your hackle plyers to the bottom of your dubbing loop and wrap the shank. Once you get to the stopping point, use your fingers and push some of the hair back. Secure the dubbing loop with 4-5 wraps behind your tag and 5-6 in front.

7. Trim the dubbing loop tag and give it one or two more wraps to hide any left over tag and give it a nice little head.

8. Whip finish and apply head cement. Note: You can also make a whip finisher out of a paper clip too if your cheap like me.

9. Clip the excess hair off the top and sides.

10. Pull some "Legs" out of the bottom. Trim if to long.

Try expirimenting with different thread color. Remember Scuds can be different colors, like pink and orange to mimic dead ones

[MrDucky]

OK, I realize this post is a year old, but how do you make a whip finisher out of a paper clip?

[Phil Lilley]

Talk about cheap- I whip with my fingers. Never learned to use a whip finisher.

[Flysmallie]

Whip finisher out of a paper clip? Even I'm not that cheap!!! As much as I have spent on this sport so far I think I will stick with my $5 whip finishing tool.

Of course if I was as talented as Phil I would do it by hand, it looks a lot faster. I make that one of my New Years resolutions.

[Phil Lilley]

Rolan Duffield taught me to whip finish when I first started tying flies. Not sure if it's faster or not. And it's not that hard either.

[Rusty]

I learned to whip finish using my hands as well. It was many moons ago. First time I used a whip finisher, I tied my fingers to the fly.

[Terry Beeson]

I made my first whip finisher out of a coat hanger.

Phil, fingers are faster because you don't have to spend five minutes figuring out where you put your fingers in the tying station...

[MrDucky]

Boy, after all this, I hope I win the one on eBay! I also don't think I'll let ya'll know what happens the first time I use it!

[jOrOb]

I have made a number of whip finishers and dubbing tools from paper clips. They work pretty well. Just bend a jumbo paper clip into the shape you are looking for.

Like this:

[brittsnbirds]

My biggest problem with whip finishing with my fingers is, they at times are so rough it snags the thread. Unless I'm doing it wrong I would prefer using my fingers as it saves time.