Little Lehigh 11/24

[blf]

Wow --- with the 20-22's do you still use scud back/ribbing? I had a tough time even with the 18s ....

 

[afishinado]

blf wrote:
Wow --- with the 20-22's do you still use scud back/ribbing? I had a tough time even with the 18s ....

blf,

You can use a small scud back on size 18-20 hooks, but an easy way is to cut the dubbing flat on the back and brush a LITTLE bit of Sally Hansen's HAN or something similar. I always use ribbing for scuds, it helps shape the body. In this case just rib over the dubbing, trim, and apply HAN. HTH.

 

[blf]

Ok --- ill give it a try. Since this thread is becoming a 'scud" discussion - how many ribs do u guys use.... I've brought a few scuds home with me in a small clear container to look at ....so many segments. Do you guys go the suggestive rout with 5 or so ribs or do you really try to make it exact? I figure for a close to exact copy, I'd have to use some 10-12 x varivas!! For my 16's I use 10/0 mono thread.

I thought the HAN would just soak right into the dubbing. I love the Whitlock SLF stuff personally. So you dub, rib THEN HAN or dub, HAN then rib while its still drying?

 

[afishinado]

I complete the fly, ribbing and all, trim it flat on top and apply HAN. Actually I have two bottles of HAN. One is is thicker than the other, I use the thicker one for coating things. After it dries, I pick out the dubbing on the sides and belly to represent legs and gills. This is also a good method for tying cress bugs which just consists of mess of oval shaped dubbing flattened on top and coated with SH.

As far as the number of ribs, I've seen actual discussions on FF forums about this, and I think to myself "are these guys for real?" If the fish can count the number of ribs a mm or two apart, we're all in touble, and can never hope to fool a fish. Just rib it so it looks "right".

 

[gfen]

As I've been told, five is the number of ribs, no more, no less. Five shall be the number of ribs you turn, the number of ribbing shall be five. Six shall not count, nor will four, excepting thou procedest to five. Seven is right out. Once the number five has been reached, being the fifth turn, then thou lobbest thy scud at your foe...

Seriously, though, I've been told that five turns is "traditional," but that it doesn't really matter how many you do as long as they're even and not crowded.

 

[trowpa]

yeah - i've been told "5" is the golden rule too - but just make it look right - trout don't count.

And as for the other questions - i mix olive and grey dubbing to make my own "scud mix" and do them in size 16 and 18.

 

[jayL]

I like to use 7 ribs. It distracts the fish from the giant pointed metal rod sticking out of the scud's rear end.

 

[tomgamber]

Only the "educated" fish can count to 7, Jay.

 

[littlelehigh]

I use tan swiss straw over the back (yes down to size #22) and rib mine but only 4 times with thin silver wire.
I predominently fish this scud in faster water to create self doubt in the fish as to their mathematic abilities.

For all other areas of the stream I use 5 ribs.