Scud Patterns

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Good morning everyone. I have a question for the forum. I've been working on tying up some fly's to refill my fly box. It's time to work on my scud patterns and I got to thinking (bad idea.) What would be your favorite scud pattern / color. Do you like bead heads or not and what have you had the best luck with. I usually try to keep some olive or grey colors without a bead head. I also keep to dubbing bodies. What do you think about the vinyl ribbing paterns? Thanks for all your help.

John

Born to fish, forced to work!

[tippet7]

my favorite is a#16 gray, simple scud with red thread. its a killer pattern for me.

[Andrew Schaefer]

I like a lead wrapped hook and dubbed body in grey, tan, and olive shades. Im not a huge fan of bead heads when the water is low because I think the beads spook fish that have time to inspect the fly. When the water is on and I'm in a boat, I'll sometimes use a beadhead to help sink the fly and get the fish's attention in fast water. I have expirimented with plastic shellbacks and wire and thread ribs. I don't think they make much of a difference but they do dress up the fly some. One of my favorite ribbing materials is clear green nylon monofilament, it gives the sudgestion of segmentation but it isn't overpowering or flashy like wire.

[gonefishin]

I like to fish with what I call natural colors. Olives, tans ect. It would be interesting to see what colors show up on Phils underwater cam.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

I like a lead wrapped hook . . .

What size lead do you use?

[jOrOb]

Good morning everyone. I have a question for the forum. I've been working on tying up some fly's to refill my fly box. It's time to work on my scud patterns and I got to thinking (bad idea.) What would be your favorite scud pattern / color. Do you like bead heads or not and what have you had the best luck with. I usually try to keep some olive or grey colors without a bead head. I also keep to dubbing bodies. What do you think about the vinyl ribbing paterns? Thanks for all your help.

John

Born to fish, forced to work!

I like the simpler patterns best. Tan has always produced the best for me but olive and grey work very well as well. My favorite is the ostrich scud (search the forum and you will find one). It is easy to tie and works well. Also a simple scud( also searchable here) works great. I don't tie any with bead heads or weight. I prefer to use a small weight above the scud instead. Can't say that that is the best though, just how I do it.

For high water, there is a pattern called a nitro scud which has always worked well for me. You can view the fly at Charteredwaters.com but he doesn't have a pattern posted. You should be able to duplicate it though.

jOrOb