Thanks for the info. That sounds easy enough. I just bought some fish skull sculpin helmets to try out.
Originally Posted by
TahoeJoe
The helmet head sculpin is pretty easy to tie. Using the helmet head was an experiment and I like the result. The head has a weighted keel design that helps to keep the hook from snagging on the bottom. I used mirabou for the tail, shaggy ice dubbing in a loop, tapered thicker towards the head then palmered over with a webby soft saddle hackle. I added a couple of barred olive hackles out the sides behind the head to simulate the pectoral fins. Finally, put the head on and locked it in. I only used 1 feather for the tail, the next tie will have two after seeing the fly wet in the water. The recipe on the package uses bunny strips and that works. It's pretty easy to tie too but I'm not a fan of casting wet and soggy rabbit hide. YMMV
A tungsten bead, black and olive woolly bugger would work. I've used it in the past and it's still a standby for a sculpin imitation. The helmet head that I described above is could qualify as a woolly bugger variant. The other suggestions for flies are probably just as good, just not what I use.
Getting the fly on the bottom is key. Some sort of sinking line or tip really helps.
..."I'd rather be fishing..."
Peter V
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