Nymph
Gammarus Scud
Everyday freshwater shrimp
Trout · GraylingSubsurface
Weighted olive-grey scud with a curved back and picked-out legs — the everyday Gammarus of weedy alkaline water. Fished dead-drift close to the bed, or twitched out of the weed on the induced take.
Fish this when
Any month on weedy chalk streams and alkaline rivers, where Gammarus is available year-round and trout grub for it in the Ranunculus rather than looking up.
Why it works
Gammarus is one of the few genuinely year-round food items in alkaline water, so the silhouette is never out of season; the curved back and leg-fringe give the profile trout key on when they are working the weed.
Naturals it imitates
freshwater shrimp / scud (Gammarus pulex)
Typical zone & fishable range
usually
Surface
Film
Subsurface
Deep
Setup sensitivity: medium
Quick facts
Tying difficulty
Beginner-friendly