Tying up some "Limestone Scuds" today. This is a variation on a basic pattern that I learned 30 years ago from Fred Reese of Jersey Shore, PA..... He had some great dubbing mixes that he sold and this is one of his. (I'm down to my very last pack of dubbing)
The concept and "magic" of the fly is the combination of materials.
The dubbing is "crystal mohair" which is a very coarse and extremely translucent material with a bit of chopped lite Brite type flash mixed in.
Pale smokey olive in color.
Most commercial type scud patterns you'll see IMO are wayyyyy over dressed and too opaque.
This is relatively underdressed and the way the materials work together allows the centerline of the natural to show through on the imitation.
I tie these in #16 and #18 and they are my #1 confidence fly in water with a lot of scuds.
I'll post a few pics of the build to kinda show how I like the proportions and the finished fly to look.
Hook: Mustad C49SAP Caddis. #16-18. Ive been liking this hook lately. Sticky, fairly light wire and I like the extra bite with the straight eye and the slightly shallower curve in the shank than many "scud" hooks.
Thread: Semperfli 12/0 Brick Beige. I like the thread to be basically no influence to the finished fly.
Tail: wood duck flank sparse
Underbody: Black crystal flash wrapped
Rib: Maxima UG mono ,3x
Shell: 2 light layers of Solarez med.
Wet.....