I was invited to tie at the Dutch Fly Fair last weekend. A small Mini Sculpin pattern was lying on my desk in front of me while tying. It was less then 5 cm long. A lot of people liked it, especially Walter Bayer from Ireland (great flytyer) and Roger Enger Lie (great caster) from Norway and I had to promise to them, that I will do a step by step tutorial of this little guy.

So guys, this one is for you! ;-)

Material:

• Hook: Gamakatsu SC 15 # 4
• Weight: Tungsten Bead
• Tail: Pine Squirrel Zonker
• Pectoral Fins: Pine Squirrel Zonker
• Head: Senyo’s Laser Dub
• Eyes: 3-D Eyes

Put a tungsten bead on the hook.

Tie in a piece of pine squirrel zonker as a tail.

Put some pine squirrel hair in the clamp, then split the thread and put the hair in the gap.

Rotate the bobbin to twist the hair and the thread. Put a litlle bit of water on the hair, so it’s easier to wrap it around the hook shank.

Tie in bunches of Senyo’s Laser Dub. Remember, this is a up side down pattern, so tie in the bright color on top of the fly and the dark color underneath. You can create different shades by using different colors. Finish the tying with a whip finish behind the tungsten bead.

Now, start the cutting to create a sculpin head. The easiest way is to begin with the flat underside.

Before the cutting is finished, use some superglue to fix the 3-D eyes on top of the sculpin head and press the eyes into the Laser Dub to give the head strength. Now, you can do the final cutting.

That’s it! A small sculpin which swims down on the bottom of the river, because of the tungsten bead.

Note: Please press down the barb of the hook! Trouts will take the sculpin very aggressively!

tight lines

Holger Lachmann