Ok so here's a SBS for OE Waggy tail sculpin, I have not used this pattern yet but I have high hope for it, the only issue I can see is the hook being in the middle of the fly, not sure how it will affect hook ups.
First take your hook, I use Mustad Aberdeens sizes 1/0 to 4. Bend the hook upwards to approximately 45o, make the bend around half way down the shank. Roughen the hook shank with some sandpaper to help the glue keep a firm hold.
Make a thread base, I use powersilk 5/0, apply some superglue and dub a smallish rugby ball shape. Take a length of lead wire, i've used .60mm, tie it down leaving a tag hanging down just before the bend. This is used to help when wrapping the lead wire along the back half of the hook shank.
Apply some superglue to the dubbing ball and start to wrap the lead around the dubbing ball, wrap the lead on the top of the hook shank at the rear of the fly and underneath around the tag at the front end. Trap the wire down with your thread and occasionally apply superglue to the lead wire and thread wraps. On a size 1/0 to 1 hook I use approximately eight inches of wire this creates a rugby ball shape about the length of the rear end of hook shank.
Apply a final spot of superglue to this ball on the top and bottom and flatten with some smooth jawed pliers, it will compress quite a lot.
Whilst the supper is still tacky which it probably will be due to the amount applied, twist on your thread some cream/light tan dubbing, use an antron type dubbing, wrap the dubbing around the lead keeping it tight so that it lays very flat, it's the width you want not depth.
Once the rear part is covered you need to prepare the zonker strip, Oliver Edwards uses a natural ginger rabbit skin and if you can get hold of one this would be best, if not white or natural will suffice. To make the zonker, cut a strip starting around 8mm wide, keeping a straight edge for about the length of the back half of the hook shank, taper the strip down to around 3mm. At the end of the zonker you need to fold it back to create the tail, fold over around 4/5mm using contact adhesive, squeeze the end together quite hard to ensure it's not bulky.
Tie on the zonker at the bend of the hook, apply contact adhesive on top of the dubbing and press down the strip, it should be as wide if not slightly wider than the dubbing body. Superglue the area where the zonker is tied down to secure it.
Now you will begin to form the head, this is made out of sculpin wool, try to match the colour with your dubbing, this and the rabbit skin will the roughly be the same colour for the underneath. It takes approximately three lots of sculpin wool to complete the head, make sure you superglue every tie down stage to keep the fibers secure. If you should need more the add it.
Once your certain the glue is dry take a brush and brush the wool to blend it all together, also you shouldn't be pulling any quantity of fibers out, if you are then it's not secured properly.
Once the head is blended begin to cut the head to shape, I always start with the underneath as it will always be flat, go down to as close to level with the body, remember the hook is bent up so don't follow the hook shank. Trim the top and sides to the required shape, look at some pictures of bullhead to see the shape of the natural. When your close to the finished shape trim the zonker strip as there will be too much length on the strip, taper the fur down towards the tail, leaving a bit that will form part of the tail, match the top and bottom of the tail. Trim the tail to length also rounding it too.
Once the head has been trimmed I colour the fly, start with a light brown/sand colour as a base, you can also start with darker colours for a darker fly. Over this put some barring in, if the base is sandy then use dark brown for the barring, if the base is dark brown use black for the bars etc. Leave the fly to dry, this will take a while due to the amount of ink that you put on the fly. Once the ink is dry brush the head and zonker as the fibers will have stuck together.
To make the pectoral fins take some antron type material, say EP fibers or Moser ghost fiber, Push a needle through just behind where the gills would be on the head, take a sufficient bunch of fibers to make the fin, which are quite large and broad in relation to the size of the fish. Thread the fibers through the needle eye and pull through, try to get the needle between a thread wrap but don't worry if you don't as supper glue will hold it in place. Before you pull the fibers to their eventual position apply a spot of superglue and quickly pull it into the fly, this will now stay in place, trim the fibers to the required size, again using a picture of the natural to judge the size. Barr the fins with a marker.
Take a cauterizer and burn two little holes where the eyes will be and glue these in, it's best to use a gel superglue or epoxy otherwise the glue will just spread into the head without sticking the eyes properly. Stick on the eyes and your done.
Admire your creation and don't be scared to use it, I bet you'll pull out your biggest river brownie with it.
Waggy Tail Sculpin SBS
Linear Mode
