Is there a difference between a Sow bug and a Scud? Are they both the same? Looking in my dictionary under “scud” it does not even come close to a “bug” of any kind. Of course my dictionary is old, like me, and maybe it and I have been passed by. The reason I am asking is because if there is a difference between a Sow Bug and a Scud, I would be interested in any patterns someone may have and willing to share on Sow Bugs. If a Sow Bug and a Scud are one in the same, then I do not need any patterns.
I’m just flapping my jaws here, because I didn’t research it at all. I assumed “sow bugs” were those things that look like “wood lice” (what we used to call “roly poly’s” when I was a kid), except they are aquatic. And I assume scuds are those little freshwater shrimp?
They don’t look alike when you see them side-by-side, and the way they move in the water is completely different as well.
I used to set a minnow trap in a creek across street from my house when I lived in northern Illinois. I’d catch both of those critters in my trap, along with the usual assortment of minnows, crayfish, nymphs and frogs.
Thanks, everyone…I now know that they are not one of the same and I now have some patterns to experiment with at the fly tying table tonight. Been reading some history on my local 2 trout rivers and all articles mentioned that “sow bugs” have always been good flies to use. I will now find out.
Just a hint for tying the sowbugs:
Squish 'em flat. Sowbugs have a flatter, broader back than scuds, so squish 'em! I recommend googling “jeremy hunt original sowbug”
Being an Arkansas Fly fisherman I have lots of scuds and sowbugs in my boxes and yes they are two different bugs.
The tail waters in Arkansas are scud/sowbug loaded. One pattern that is simply to tie and very effecvtive is here: http://www.itinerantangler.com/podcasts/video/ . . . Scroll down until you find John Wilson’s Trout Crack. It’s a scud like pattern that works well.
I know a couple other patterns that I don’t have written up currently nor have I found them on the net yet. Let me know if you need more. I know another scud pattern and 2 more sowbug patterns.
Sowbugs are isopods. They are flattened from top to bottom (dorsal to ventral)
Isopods are found in salt water, fresh water and on land.
Sowbugs do not lay their eggs. They carry them and their young around with them.
Scuds are amphopods. They are flatened from side to side. (laterally)
Scuds are sometimes called sideswimmers because, well that’s how they do it!
Scuds are shrimp-like but are not shrimp.
Scuds are more mobile and IMHO in the northeast U.S. are more likely to be found by foraging fish.
I’ve never found any songs about amphopods but here’s a link to songs about isopods !!!
Warren, think of sowbugs as being vertically compressed, with a low height and bulging sides, when laid out. (Keep quiet, Joe.) Scuds are horizontally compressed.
