The Flashback Scud - Simple, Effective, Situational

Not My Favorite — But When It’s On, It’s On

I’ve never been a huge fan of fishing scuds. That’s not because they don’t work—it’s because they only really work in very specific conditions. Scuds are highly localized: if you’re not fishing slow-moving or still water, especially on a tailwater where mid- or surface-fed dam flows exist, they’re not usually in the mix.

I’ve always leaned heavily toward flies and techniques that let me imitate multiple food sources at once. Scuds aren’t that. They don’t look like anything else. When you fish a scud, you’re fishing a scud—period. It’s a one-lane road.

But in the right water? A scud can absolutely save the trip.

Where Scuds Thrive

Scuds thrive in calm, shallow, and vegetated environments—especially near the bottom. Think of them tucked in between rocks, root balls, and mats of decaying plant matter near the shoreline of lakes and ponds. You’ll also find them in slow, shallow sections of tailwaters. If you’re not fishing in that kind of water, leave the scuds in the box. But when you are… game on.

My Flashback Scud

I don’t fish scuds often, so when I do, I keep it simple. This flashback version is my go-to. It’s quick to tie, durable, and effective when the situation calls for it.

Key Features:

• A mottled mylar back gives subtle contrast and sheen—just enough to draw attention.

• A few strands of brown polypro add movement and flash.

• The ribbing can be anything: I like yellow wire here for some attractor appeal, but feel free to get creative.

• The most important part? Keep the profile slim. It matters.

Tying Recipe

Hook - Standard Scud (curved) style. Sizes 10-20. I prefer the smaller end of that scale and use Euro branded hooks for my scuds. Think Hanak, Hends, etc.

Thread - Veevus 16/0 (tan) – keeps profile thin

Tail - Brown poly pro stands adds movement (optional)

Ribbing - Wire, tinsel, or mono/Fluoro

Body - Wapsi Sow Scud Dubbing in Rainbow or Tan

Back - Mottled Mylar or any type of branded scud back material

Fishing Tips

Fish this pattern dead drift in slow or still water. Tailwaters with scud populations are prime targets. And don’t be afraid to lose a few—if you’re not occasionally ticking bottom, you’re fishing it too high.

Cinnamon Toast: A Minimalist Baetis Nymph with Maximum Impact

Why the Cinnamon Toast Deserves a Spot in Your Nymph Box

Kevin Compton’s Cinnamon Toast nymph is a prime example of what happens when smart material choices and minimalist design come together. On paper, it’s a simple pheasant tail-style baetis nymph—but on the water, it offers a realistic profile and natural movement that pressured trout can’t ignore.

Built around a slim turkey biot body, a contrasting peacock thorax, and a refined silhouette, the Cinnamon Toast fills a familiar niche in a smarter way. It’s a mayfly imitation that plays the same role as the pheasant tail but with just enough difference to fool selective fish.

Why Fish the Cinnamon Toast?

Let’s be honest—when most of us think “mayfly nymph,” we reach for a pheasant tail. It’s one of the most effective nymphs ever tied. But that also makes it very familiar to trout, especially in pressured systems.

That’s where the Cinnamon Toast comes in. It offers:

• A slimmer profile that cuts through current and looks more natural

• Olive turkey biot with subtle segmentation and two-tone hues

• Jan Siman Peacock Dubbing for a rich, buggy thorax

• Subtle material movement that adds lifelike realism without flash

It’s simple, quick to tie, and deadly effective in Euro nymphing or indicator rigs. It gets down fast and doesn’t give fish much to refuse.

Key Materials & Tying Notes

Hook - Standard nymph hook (barbless preferred for Euro setups)

Thread - Veevus 16/0 (brown or olive) – keeps profile thin

Bead (Optional) - Copper tungsten bead – use weighted and unweighted versions

Tail - Coq de Leon fibers – natural speckling for realism

Ribbing - Fine copper wire – reinforces and segments body

Body - Olive turkey biot – tapered and segmented, lifelike baetis look

Thorax - Jan Siman Peacock Dubbing (bronze or UV bronze) – adds contrast and texture

Pro Tip: While the original uses a brown-olive condor substitute, turkey biots are more available and offer the same effect. Avoid over-dressing the thorax—less is more with this pattern.

Customization & Variations

• Keep variations minimalist—this pattern works because of its realism and simplicity.

• Avoid swapping thorax dubbing too drastically; test results show Jan Siman’s UV bronze performs best.

• If you're not using Jan Siman dubbing elsewhere, you should—it’s an excellent peacock herl substitute and quickly becoming my go-to.

Why It Belongs in Your Baetis Arsenal

The Cinnamon Toast nymph hits all the marks:

• ✅ Slim, fast-sinking profile for Euro or indicator rigs

• ✅ Realistic baetis silhouette with lifelike material movement

• ✅ Easy to tie and easy to trust during baetis hatches

• ✅ Subtle and selective—perfect for pressured trout

This fly shines in rivers with consistent mayfly activity and offers a thoughtful alternative when trout have seen one pheasant tail too many.

Final Thoughts

If you love modern, fishy, minimalist nymph patterns, Kevin Compton’s Cinnamon Toast should be on your bench and in your fly box. It’s simple to tie, deadly effective, and a refreshing twist on the pheasant tail.

Tie a few in sizes 16 to 20, and you’ll quickly see why this is one of my favorite baetis nymphs to fish anywhere in the country.

Galloup’s Hare’s Ear: The Ultimate Guide Nymph for All Conditions

Why the Hare’s Ear Still Reigns Supreme

If there’s one fly that’s earned its place in every trout angler’s box, it’s the Hare’s Ear nymph. It’s a generalist pattern that imitates a wide range of aquatic insects—and that’s exactly what makes it so deadly.

Several years ago, Bryce and I spent a full week on Colorado’s South Platte River with a Hare’s Ear on our rigs the entire time. Whether we ran it deep as an anchor or higher in the water column, it consistently produced fish. Sometimes it was even the first clue that the bite was about to turn on.

That’s the magic of the Hare’s Ear:
It doesn’t imitate anything specific—yet it resembles everything.

A Buggy Upgrade: Galloup’s Hare’s Ear

Roughly 8–9 years ago, I stumbled across a post detailing Kelly Galloup’s original take on the Hare’s Ear, and it completely changed how I tie this pattern.

What makes it different?

• Dubbing-looped abdomen and thorax: Gives the fly a pulsing, lifelike motion underwater.

• Flash ribbing: Adds subtle attraction for pressured or off-color water.

• Peacock herl wing case: Provides contrast and a natural sheen fish key in on.

Kelly Galloup hand-blends his dubbing mix from a natural hare’s mask and hare’s ear, but I opt for a high-quality pre-mixed blend. Just make sure the mix includes guard hairs—they add critical texture and movement.

Materials:

Hook - Standard Nymph Hook

Thread - Brown or Tan Veevus 16/0

Tail - Coq De Leon (Light Pardo)

Ribbing - Subtle flash (here sulky holoshimmer) or gold wire

Abdomen - Hare’s mask dubbing in loop (pre blended or custom mixed)

Thorax - Same as body

Wing Case - Natural peacock hurl

Optional - Hungarian partridge tied in as wings

Pro Tip: If you’re doing a replenishment session, it’s okay to skip the partridge—this fly works just as well without it. But for a presentation upgrade, it adds a nice touch.

Variations and Local Tweaks

One of the biggest advantages of this pattern is its adaptability. You can easily shift the tone to match local water conditions:

• Olive or brown dubbing for mayfly-heavy rivers

• Gold or amber tones in off-colored or tannic waters

• Add a bead if you need faster sink rates for Euro setups

This fly is an excellent choice if you're looking for a guide-style nymph: quick to tie, easy to customize, and built for all-day performance.

Final Thoughts

Galloup’s Hare’s Ear takes the legendary effectiveness of the traditional Hare’s Ear and turns it into a modern, movement-rich nymph that performs in all water types, all seasons, and all setups. Whether you’re tightlining, swinging, or floating under an indicator, this fly gets it done.

Add a few to your box in sizes 12 to 18—you won’t regret it.