Fish-Hawk.Net

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone tried fishing scud patterns in the local trout lakes? I've been reading a number of books talking about the importance of scuds. I'm assuming that there are scuds in our local stillwaters.

Thanks,

Salar.

If scuds are in the lake, then the fish probably eat them. I've had limited success with them, mostly on speckles. I'm not sure whether that was due to their eating scuds or that the flies resembled "trout chow."

check this:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/ianjames/scudflyfishing.html

you can also try searching academic articles through university systems (i can do this for you if you like, just pm me).

scuds were one of my go-to patterns out west. i'm sure they'd work out here as well. there were lots of scuds and sowbugs in the grand river when i fished it last year.

I have seen them in only one place where they were abundant enough to be an important food item. That was Ninemile Creek in NY where the trout eat them to the exclusion of almost everything else.

I could be wrong but I always thought they favour alkaline, "hard" water environments that are rich and stable like spring creeks or tailwaters. A little fecal matter or enrichment from fertilzer or water treatment plants certainly helps. Anything that encourages the growth of green algae.

Such a place is quite different from acidic Canadian Shield trout ponds.

Ganman,

You're right, from what I've read scuds do favor alkaline lakes. There are some alkaline lakes in Ottawa Valley region. They're not your typical Canadian shield lakes with acidic, tannin stained waters. I'm assuming that there are scuds in them but haven't witnessed any myself.

Salar.

I know there is something found in shield lakes we rightly or wrongly called a freshwater shrimp. But it looks entirely different from what Ian James was discussing which was a scud.

Salar,

You might want to ping Bob as he has detailed notes on most of the lakes up your way. He would have a good idea as to which lakes have scuds. If they're not scuds it's possible that they are Fairy Shrimp. (~ 0.6")

Cheers,
Todd

Ian's article discussed the Gammarus scud (10-25 mm). His article doesn't mention the other prevalent species, the Hyalella scud (3-5 mm). The Hyalella scud is more widespread in stillwaters than the Gammarus. Gammarus are more likely to be found in the productive stillwaters out west. Around here the Hyalella scud would be more likely. Bob Sheedy's and Paul Marriner's books have good articles on scuds.

Anyways, I'll try out some scud patterns this season and report back

I haven't been on this site for some time and I just got back from the PA tribs. The fishing wasn't as great as reported in the fall but hey, its fly fishing and I landed several in the 6-9# range with lots of break-offs. Sure was great to have the flyrod in hand even though some variation on float fishing was more productive.

As to your question on scuds, I am told by people who have cottages on Scully Lake and Marble Lake that they are plentiful in those two lakes and one of the main food sources. I've not actually seen them in the water like you can out west but I have spooned a few (and when gutting). I don't fish them often but I plan on doing more this season. Jack Shaw of Kamloops (now deceased but a legend in his time - and a former neighbour when I was kid) said not to tie one specifically but take a woolley bugger whose time has passed and cut off all the hackle except the underside and you have a scud but it would have to be a rather small woolley bugger, I would think.

On another thread there was a reference to crayfish. They do work quite well in the Calabogie Lakes and I have seen them in the water and in fish. Make them small. The best pattern as was mentioned is Sheedy's Pheasant Tail version. The weird part is, I have been told by more than one person that they are getting quite big, big enough to eat!

bobfly

Can't wait for soft water but I think it will be a bit later this year.