Another Hairy Leg Sow Bug

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History of the Pattern

This is a variation of George Born's, Little Red guide, pattern for imitating the sow bugs on the Little Red River in Arkansas. It can be fished anywhere sow bugs are present. It can be fished dead drifted, stripped or just swing it.

Materials

  • Hook: Scud Hook; (e.g., TMC 2487) or equivalent; sizes 14-16

  • Thread: Gray (example: Uni 6/0, UTC 140D)

  • Bead: 1/8 or 3/32 Silver

  • Tail: Grizzly and brown hackle tips

  • Rib: 4X Mono or X-small silver wire (Optional for durability)

  • Body: Wapsi Sow-Scud - Sow Bug (#260)

  • Soft-Hackle/Legs: Hungarian Partridge

  • Hot Spot: Red dubbing material

  • Weight: Lead or lead-free wire (.015” or .020”) approximately seven wraps

  • Carapace: Clear or cloudy scud back.

Tying Instructions

  • Mash barb. Bead the hook and place in the vice.

  • Wrap seven or eight turns of lead wire down the shank.

  • Start the thread behind the bead and lay a base wrap over the lead down to the bend. Return the thread to behind the bead.

  • If using a ribbing, tie it in starting at the bead and wrap to the bend.

  • Secure the scud back at the bend and wrap over it to behind the bead.

  • Starting at the bend, dub a tapered body to two eye lengths behind the bead.

  • Using red dubbing, form a hot spot in front of the body.

  • Use a dubbing brush to brush out the dubbing.

  • Select and prepare the appropriate size Hungarian Partridge. Tie it in by the tip and make several wraps behind the bead. Cut off the excess.

  • Separate the Hungarian Partridge back along both sides of the hood leaving a bare spot on top of the fly.

  • Pull the scud back over the top of the hook and tie off behind the bead.

  • If using ribbing, bring it forward and tie it off behind the bead. Be careful to not catch the partridge fibers as you wrap forward.

  • Clip the excess ribbing material.

  • Whip finish.