How to Tie Trevor's Sculpin - OPST

Long-time Alaskan fly fishing guide Trevor Covich teaches you how to tie his sparse, deadly sculpin pattern that has accounted for untold numbers of big rainbows. Sculpins are some of the most effective flies in Alaska, and Trevor's version, with minimal materials and maximal movement, is one of the best. To recreate this sculpin ask for barred ostrich plumes from Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics.

[@snowblind9065]

used a light brown and shrimp colored one these of a recent trip to the Yucatan this Christmas.caught lots of small jacks,bone fish,a permit and a trigger fish plus 2 small cuddas a great versitile pattren that should work for a variety of gamefish in both fresh water and the salt chuck...thanks for the upload

[@the_nothing]

Trevor, excellent demonstration. In fact, I'll go so far as to say this is one of the best fly tying tutorials on KZbin because of your explanation of the steps. Well done!

[@Jesse-cy7ws]

Thank you. Merry Christmas!

[@rromeis520]

Trevor… used this Sculpin on the Rio Simpson in Chilean Patagonia… caught the best trout of the trip on your fly…. thanks...

[@trevorcovich3002]

+Ron Romeis Glad to hear mate!

[@trevorcovich3002]

Isaac, Thanks! I wasn't going for speed more for instruction. When all put together I can usually do this sculpin in about 6 min. glad you enjoyed it.Again thanks. T

[@pastorkincaid]

Thanks so much for putting out and sharing such a great video. You & Jerry are so cool to do these. Really appreciate it man.

[@johnshand6176]

Very nice tying. Will try a few variations for the Tongariro River down-under in New Zealand, Thanks.

[@brentkdaniels]

I tied a mini variant of this last summer but in light brown. Sculpins are small and light in colour where I fly fish well according to research. This pattern didn’t disappoint. Brown trout just couldn’t leave it alone. Thanks for sharing.

[@ricksmith3571]

What an amazing tutorial!

[@trevorcovich3002]

Stephen, I have messed around with a few different methods with sculpins or streamers. This is just 1 pattern, I have used articulated shanks but usually just for larger streamers. This fly was made to be "simple and effective", with explaining steps this fly takes some time. With bite-size streamers I stick with a single shank. Weight and lengths of flies depend on the situation, I use multiple patterns depending. Cheers Stephen

[@austinwaggoner]

What size and type hook is ur preference for the trailing hook?

[@trevorcovich3002]

Brent, barbell eyes are great, I use them when I want a heavier fly with more of a jigging motion on the strip. Fish attack prey or flies from all angles, I know some trout attack flies at the head, If the barbell eyes stick out too far mainly with larger barbell eyes I believe it will knock the fly in an awkward direction making for a difficult hook set.This could be why I have had missed strikes. The weighted bead is a smoother transition, better for swung flies not stripped.

[@trevorcovich3002]

"Waters west" in Port angeles carries them and will ship out, along with others in the northwest

[@KillerRock616]

I’ve tied up a few using pine squirrel strips and #6 hooks to match the typically small 2-3” sculpins I see in the MD and PA streams out here. I’m assuming you use a twisted hitch to fasten the trailing hook to the end of the strip? Love the look of these things and they seem to avoid hanging up on submerged wood noticeably better than patterns tied on barbell eyes

[@lymanator]

Great looking fly. Just wondering, do you usually cut off the front hook?

[@vinniebarbarino-1]

Brilliant & Masterful, cheers

[@scottmehlhaff8124]

I like your brass dubbing tool, I'm the same way. I make my own bobbins, tieing table almost everything else. Good video though.

[@tattvamasi_1]

Cool, bro! 👍👏👏🎣🐟🛶👊🤝

[@CheatgrassPhantom]

Like it Trevor! Where do you get the barred olive ostrich?

[@trevorcovich3002]

With fire line you can use a straight eye or octopus hook. Senyo intruder wire since its stiffer you want to use the owner cutting point which is an octopus style hook for smoother seating of your hook. I like a size 4 owner

[@brianamado4366]

How long do you soak the flies in chicken liver before you fish them?

[@TheSilver9r]

Nice fly! Fairly new to tying flies, I have to ask, do you cut off the front hook?

[@trevorcovich3002]

Always cut off the front hook, I only used a hook to tie on cause I had no shanks to use. Thanks

[@stephenwelham]

would it be possible to tie a Sculpin with synthetic materials your view please

[@Belbivdevoe]

I might have missed it but do you cut the front hook?

[@OPSkagit]

yes you do

[@bp9069]

Trevor, why do you think barbell's will screw up hookups?

[@stephenwelham]

had you thought of useing an articlated shank in heavy wire to aid the sinking of the fly best reguards steve

[@bradcorrea9963]

What is the theory behind dumbbell eyes and hook ups??

[@OPSkagit]

Well many think that they can sometimes skip off to outer plating on a fishes face, or tangle in those same grooves momentarily and prevent a safe and solid hook-up.

[@bp9069]

do you do the same thing for your steely bugs?

[@billwoods7531]

Will this fly catch pnw steelies or would you flash it up and make it bigger? Wondering on a river up here in bc with both big bulls and steels

[@ernestanderson7675]

Bill Woods

[@brianamado4366]

Trevor slightly resembles Chad Taylor (Lead guitarist) during “Lives” MTV unplugged sesh. Idk why that just came to me...gonna start watching the video now

[@roymay9758]

Nice fly.....gonna tie some up.

[@bp9069]

thanks Trevor

[@mikekreidermacher8770]

Is a 5/32 blood red tungsten bead ok

[@jeanclaudemoussa]

Hey Trevor, what type of braid do you use to make the tail loop?

[@bpaull08]

Hi James, sorry it took so long to get back on this. We use either Senyo intruder wire, or Power Pro, 30 or 50 pound.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

love it

[@opstshare7295]

Thanks Tim!!

[@trevorcovich3002]

For the record YES I always cut off the front hook, we forgot to throw that in the video. Now that we have proper retort eye shanks I'm done cutting hooks.

[@trevorcovich3002]

I also believe that hookups are harder to get with stripped flies anyway though the movement triggers a lot of strikes. For steelhead..... FOR SURE! A weighted bead makes a great shoulder and keeps the weight of the fly in the medium range instead of to heavy or to light. Take r easy Brent. T