Description
Fly Type: This is a subsurface scud imitation and nymph pattern. It is designed to be a realistic imitation with an added attractor quality, combining the natural grey body with a high-visibility orange element.
Best Suited For: An excellent fly for targeting fish that feed on scuds or freshwater shrimp. It is a proven pattern for trout (especially rainbow and brown trout), grayling, and panfish.
Best Time to Fish: This fly works well year-round, but it is particularly effective in the colder seasons when scuds are a primary food source. The combination of grey and orange makes it a versatile choice for both clear and off-color water.
Water Type: A classic freshwater fly, for rivers, streams, and stillwaters.
Best Location: The Scud Grey Orange works best in areas with aquatic vegetation or over a rocky substrate where scuds are abundant. It should be fished on or near the bottom.
Other Value: The key to this fly's success is its combination of a realistic profile and an attractor color. The hunched, shrimp-like profile is a perfect imitation of a scud, while the orange element (often a hot spot on the thorax or head) is a powerful visual trigger that can provoke a strike. The best way to fish it is with a dead drift or a very slow, jerky retrieve to imitate a scuttling crustacean.
Weight: Many of these patterns have a bead head to help them sink quickly and stay in the strike zone, especially in faster currents.