{{start}}

Many anglers think that scud are shrimp but in fact they are not. Whilst they are Crustaceans they are of the Amphipoda order and are distinguished from shrimp both in habit and design. They spend their life inhabiting the detritus matter in both flowing and still water and take on the colour of their food source. The are generally 8-13 mm in length, have a pair of antenna, seven sets of legs and are side swimmers rather that upright swimmer like shrimp. Whilst shrimp have a danger response of darting away scud curl up when in danger. They are often prolific and can make up to 20% of a trout's diet and are a particular target of trout as they mooch around the shallows particularly at times of rising water.

I use this fly to represent not only Scuds but also Olive Caddis Pupa which are of course a completely different types of creature.  The Olive Caddis pupa is the nymph of the order Trichoptera and it is mainly targeted by trout as it rises to the surface to hatch.

Whilst scud and caddis are found in quite different situations the following fly is a reasonable representation of both. That's because both are curved in shape, generally yellowish olive in colour, similar in size, have segmented bodies and in most cases have multiple legs or gills protruding below the fly.

Materials

Process

A	Wind the thread in touching turns 1/2 of the way down the hook. Understanding hooks Tie in a length of lead wire and take 8 or 9 wraps round the shank of the hook. (I used 8 wraps of 0.020 mm lead wire on this size #10 hook). Continue winding the thread in touching turns to part way round the bend of the hook.

B	Tie in a tail of just a few strands of seals fur dubbing. Tails on flies Tie in a length of scud back

C	Using the single strand dubbing method dub on a loose body along the rear 3/4 of the hook shank but finishing with the thread back toward the bend of the hook but a little forward of where the scud back is tied in.

D	Pull the scud back over the top of the hook . Hold the scud back in position with your right hand and pick up your thread with your left hand and take a single firm wrap of forming the rear most body segment on the fly. Without releasing the tension on the thread lift the scud back out of the way and take the thread forward 15% of the length of the hook shank. Repeat these 2 steps until you have 5 distinct body segments. This ribbing method is an alternative to the traditional spiral ribbing method. Body segments on flies

E	Once you have finished creating the body segments take a couple of wraps of thread to ensure the dressing doesn't unravel. Lift the scud back out of the way once more and tie in two peacock herl. Twist the herl around the thread forming a rope and build up a head slightly thicker than the body. Roping peacock herl

F	Tie the herl rope off at the 95/97% position and trim off the excess herl. Pull the scud back over the top of the herl thorax and tie it off behind the eye of the hook. Whip finish and varnish the thread.

{{end}}