scuds

[Smithvillesteve]

I dont fish for trout very often. Next week i will be down at Tanneycomo for a few days. My question to you trout boys: is there a way to fish a scud with a spinning setup? I understand those scuds are very tiny and need to be fished on the bottom. I think? I assume most of the scud fisherman use fly rods? Any advice would be deeply appreciated. 

[Seth]

If there is heavy generation, you can drag them on bottom just like a bait rig. When the water is off, you rig them below a float just like you would a fly rod. Just try to keep them close to the bottom. I like #12s in heavy flow and #16 in low or zero flow. Grey and tan are the only colors I mess with.

[Tom C]

Absolutely.  I use a medium size Oros indicator and a SSG size lead weight just below the indicator which is set at a depth to keep the fly about 6-10 inches off the bottom. I use weighted scuds.  If water is moving fast put weight about 1 to 1.5 feet above fly, indicator set to allow weight to drag bottom ; may need heavier weight ~ 1/8th ounce if not ticking on the bottom.  2 pound line for  bright sun or slow water, 4 pound is ok for fast water or cloudy weather. I'd recommend having some orange, yellow, or fl. pink egg flys on hand as well.  If fishing from a boat in moving water see image below for the drift rig I use. Adjust weight to feel the sinker ticking the bottom every 1-2 seconds, but not getting snagged.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Any chance you’ve laid out and designed a water/sewer project before 😆.  
 

Very nice spec sheet!! 

[Tom C]

3 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Any chance you’ve laid out and designed a water/sewer project before 😆.  
 

Very nice spec sheet!! 

Thank you!  One of my other hobbies is designing and building rockets; so I get a little OCD when it comes to diagrams and spec sheets.  😊

[snagged in outlet 3]

5 hours ago, Tom C said:

Thank you!  One of my other hobbies is designing and building rockets; so I get a little OCD when it comes to diagrams and spec sheets.  😊

Looks like a municipal utility project.  Great job!!

[Smithvillesteve]

Thanks Seth and Tom C. Really appreciate the info. 

[Smithvillesteve]

Can i place a split shot or two a couple of feet above a scud just to keep things simple? Or are these Tanneycomo trout to wise for that? Would it be better to put a weight below the scud? Kinda like a drop shot setup. I'm from the kiss school. Keep it simple stupid!

[dpitt]

Yes, absolutely, just make sure you have enough weight to tick the bottom and get to the bottom fast,  you won't even need an indicator, as your drifting a long you see and feel the bites.  To double your pleasure, drop another scud off or to get them attention/attracted,  try a san juan or yarn egg and drop a scud off that.     

[Smithvillesteve]

Thanks dpitt. Sincerely appreciate your advice.