Ostrich Herl Scud

[Phil Lilley]

Ostrich Herl Scud

Jeremy Hunt

Recipe:

Hook: 2457 TMC size 14-18

Thread: Uni-thread 6/0 color to match body

Body: Ostrich herl (one strand)

Head: Red thread head

This fly is very simple to tie but the results are amazing. All you need is a strand of ostrich herl. You can use any color you want. The common colors for these rivers are gray, olive, and tan. Ok tie in your thread and tie in your herl. Once you tied in you’re herl advance your thread to the eye.

Grab the herl and wind it forward keeping the wraps side by side.

Tie the herl on the top and not on the bottom. This will definitely help you keep the hairs from getting in the eye when you go to whip finish the fly.

Whip finish the thread or you can do it the way I did it on this picture.

Grab some UTC 70 thread loaded on another bobbin. Tie it on and go around the olive . Tie off the olive and tie a red head and whip finish and that’s it.

Grab some curved scissors and cut the whole back along the shank. If you cut to close you will cut the stem and it will come apart.

Ostrich Herl Scud

[jOrOb]

I caught a lot of fish on this pattern last spring. I like to add a strip of pearlescent mylar christmas tinsel as a scud back and rib it with wire. Also, if you stroke the herl "legs down then lay the scud back across, it makes a pretty fair sow bug imitation too.

jOrOb

[Fox Statler]

Phil,

Why don't you tie it with the red thread from begining to end, that way you could leave a little red butt on it?

Good fly no matter how you tie though. I like quick and effective flies. Here's one of my favorites. http://www.willowford.net/Fox's%20Worm%20Scuds.html

I drop it behind anything of fish it with a small shot about 14-18 inches above it. Is that how you fish your scud?

Fishin' What They See,

Fox Statler