The one and only “other” Sculpin- High Water
So last year as some of you know I really went gun-ho on the streamer fishing. I knew the White River was built for this. If you ask me, I wouldn’t want to throw indicator rigs or dries because this river is a whole other ball game. Sure, those things work, but remember I said, built for. This river is all about big browns and there is a way to only target this species. Yes, you won't play the numbers game, but that’s not what it's about. It’s about that one fish. Big flies are what they’re after and that’s what I think triggers the other side of their brain.
I know for a fact there are tons of sculpins in this water because I’ve seen them by the hundreds up at the dam in low water after a heavy generation. After playing around with several articulated patterns and tying with marabou by the boat load. I started thinking about a good streamer that would imitate these bigger sculpins, but still keep the movement and the profile. I also know that most bigger fish would hit the front hook instead of the back hook, which tells me they are attacking it from the head, trying to kill it.
So when coming up with this pattern I thought about all those things. You could and I have put a trailer on this pattern, but really you don’t need it. You can also tie this fly keeled style and make it ride directly on the bottom, other ways to tweek the pattern. The way I tie is the way I like it and it works for what I’m trying to accomplish. Something buggy in the water and has a big profile to entice a big trout. Because we are relying on sinking heads (275-450 grain) that have 30-40 foot heads this is why we don’t worry about weighting the hook as much. This is the way the industry is evolving. (A whole other subject which will be what I talk about on my newsletter article, switch rods and streamer rod).
About the pattern
A few things that make the fly, Marabou for the action and a wool head to keep the profile shape. I like the barring look and think the more you can have this in the pattern, the more you can create the mottled affect. Changing the color scheme through the fly will also help it. The major colors to think about when tying these are olives and browns. Hareline came out with several barred rabbit colors that have truly revolutionized rabbit to a whole other level. Without it we would be lost on what we can create now to really mimic baitfish patterns or anything big in the water that fish eat.
You can have a foul guard for the back so the tail doesn’t twist around, but I have found foam to be a big kicker for more action in the pattern, but also serves the same purpose. Another way to look at how you tie streamer patterns. I also added a little bucktail as a wing to help keep everything in line. Have fun fishing it as I know you will!!
