How to Tie a Sculpin Streamer Fly

Learn how to tie the Sculpin Streamer fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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The Chubby Muffin Sculpin Streamer gets crushed by big browns in the fall... This is a great streamer pattern for all you trout bums out there dusting off your Trout Spey rods for the months ahead. This fly features a lifelike profile, intricate fins created with India Hen, and many more features to entice a predatory brown. Pound the banks with this fly out of a drift boat or rig up the Trout Spey rod and swing your favorite riffles and runs. Tune in as Jared provides step-by-step instructions for this incredibly lifelike streamer pattern.

Materials:

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

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• Umpqua X-Series XS506 Jig Fly Hook - Size 1
• UTC Ultra Thread 140 Denier - Brown
• Hareline Pseudo Eyes - Nickel, Yellow, Medium
• Hedron Holographic Flashabou - Gold
• Hareline Crosscut Rabbit Strips - Gray
• Spirit River UV2 Strung Schlappen - Red
• Hareline India Hen Back - Brown
• Hareline Magnum Rabbit Strip - Gray
• EP Foxy Brush - Root Beer

Step One:

Start your thread and tie in the Pseudo Eyes to give the fly extra weight. This will help keep the fly deep when swinging or stripping it for Smallmouth Bass or large Brown Trout. After tying in the eyes, wrap your thread rearward to the bend of the hook.

Step Two:

Tie in the Holographic Flashabou to create the tail of the fly. Use your scissors to taper the flash and to trim it so it extends roughly 2x the length of the hook shank.

Step Three:

Create a dubbing ball just in front of the flash. This will help flare the gills of the fly. It's not going to be visible, so use whatever material you have handy. In this case, we just used some cut rabbit hair from the Magnum Rabbit Strips we had on our desk.

Step Four:

Next, tie in the Strung Schlappen and wrap it forward to create the gills. Tie the Schlappen in just in front of the dubbing ball and wrap it forward while stroking the fibers rearward. Take several tight, touching wraps to create the desired look. Tie it off leaving room behind the eyes then snip the excess feather.

Step Five:

After tying in the gills, tie in two India Hen feathers for the fins. Fins help this fly push water and widen the profile of the fly. Tie one in on each side and snip the butts of the two feathers.

Step Six:

Tie in the Magnum Rabbit strip to create the body of the fly. Measure the strip so it extends just past the flash then poke the hook shank through the center of the Rabbit strip and tie it down behind the eyes. Make sure the furry side of the Rabbit strip is on the underside of the hook shank. This fly will swim upsidedown (with the hook point up) in the water.

Step Seven:

Finally, tie in the EP Foxy Brush and wrap it forward to create the head of the fly. After tying it in, advance your thread to the front bend of the jig hook and wrap the brush through the eyes to cover up the head of the fly.

Step Eight:

After tying in the brush, whip finish and use your dubbing brush/comb to pick out the fly. This will help you trim it and will give the fly a larger, more full profile in the water.

Step Nine:

Use your scissors to trim the brush to create your desired profile. Snip off any excess fibers and create a flat, wide head for a sculpin-like appearance in the water.

Step Ten:

And that's it! That's the Chubby Muffin Sculpin, a highly efficient pattern for predatory Trout in the fall or Smallmouth Bass in the spring and summer. Don't forget to purchase your materials from us!

Questions?

Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].