Learn how to tie the EZ Mak Scud
“How about a scud?” They asked. Yeah…how about a scud. Winter fishing. Tailwaters. Little Shrimp. Lots of options to choose from and I wanted something different from the usual scub back model. While deciding, I really liked the look of the Jelly Bean Scud and the Mak Scud and was taken by my tendency to either simplify or complicate an already good thing. I gathered the ingredients for the Mak scud and thought about what I might be able to leave out. The Mallard flank from the front could be replaced with a shaggy thread end and a bit of the Ostrich herl captured at the eye and left untrimmed. Makes for decent antennae. The Ostrich Herl makes for such nice legs already that I decided to forego the flash fibers for the leg highlights. The Hareline Scud Grey Olive Ostrich Hearl is pretty much the perfect color to match to the little guys I’ve seen in Colorado tailwaters. It’s almost as if Hareline knew. Thread to match on this one was Semperfli 8/0 in Chartreuse but, having a closer look, I think Veevus Light Olive would be an even closer color match. The D-Rib adds bulk where you need it and allows the Ostrich Herl legs to settle in a perfectly uniform stagger. That D-Rib blends perfectly with Solarez flex over the back leaving only the shape of the bug and a subtle impression of ribbing. The only tricky part in the tie is making sure the D-Rib stays nicely centered over the spine of your hook but that is only a matter of lightly pulling the rib into/against the direction of your thread wraps a little. Overall, a very easy tie for a scud pattern. No need to worry about crowding the eyelet of your hook, just secure your ribbing and ostrich comfortably behind the eyelet and let the Solarez fill in and round out the gap. A hook and 4 ingredients and the configuration of those ingredients couldn’t make them any more eager to cooperate with you. Gotta have a Scud in the junk box and, for me, the choice is E.Z.
Ingredients & Recipe
- Hook: Emerger Hook
- Thread: Semperfli Chartreuse or Veevus Light Olive
- Body: Ostrich Herl, Olive or Scud Gray Olive, or Tan
- Body:Hareline Vinyle Rib, Nymph/ Clear
- Finish: Solarez Flex
- Vise – Mongoose Vice
- Scissors – Dr. Slick Arrow Point
- Bodkin – Rising Stout Bodkin
- Whip Finish – Tiemco Midge Whip Finish
- Tool Kit – Loon Tool Kit
