Tying an Olive Sculpin with Davie McPhail

Sculpins, or Bullheads which are found virtually everywhere that Trout swim and typically in large numbers. Small baitfish like these are an important food source for Trout, and especially for large Trout. It's for this reason that so many popular streamer patterns are intended to imitate or work well as imitations of Sculpins. The differences between a Sculpin and other baitfish is that they lack an air bladder, meaning they stick close to the bottom and do not move. However, when they do move, they dislodge themselves and drift freely in the current before darting in small bursts to where they intend to go. Due to this swimming behaviour, Trout will actively strike these bottom feeders as they drift in the current.

All of the materials needed to tie this fly are available from Glasgow Angling Centre as listed below, but as always, if you need any help finding materials or substitutes then we'll be happy to help. Time to tie an Olive Sculpin Fly, with the guidance of Davie McPhail.




Materials Used:
Hook: Tiemco TMC811S size 6 Thread: Uni-6/0 Olive Tail: Barred Olive Rabbit Strip Body: Wound Barred Olive Rabbit Strip Fins: Dyed Olive Grey Partridge Head: Fish Skull Olive Sculpin Helmet

Additional materials: Additionally, Davie made use of Varnish, which he applied to the thread after completing the fly.

Davie's preferred type of whip finish tool can be found HERE!

Comments