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I'll post my findings and you tell me what you think. Last year I read an article in a British flyfishing mag.The article was in reference to orange spot scuds(pregnant shrimp) and grayling. Orange spot scuds are less sensitive to sunlight which makes them more accessible to fish. Now I don't know if there is a difference between orange spot scuds and pregnant shrimp but the article says that the orange spot is created by parasites that feed on the flesh of these grayling and because it can't break through the fish's protective slime it latches on to the scuds in hope that the fish will eat them. As far as the grayling goes apparently in the pre-spawn period the males search exclusively for these scuds as they enhance the brilliance of the colour of the spawners and the females select spawning mates with the most colourful appearances I don't know if this directly relates to trout but it is something to give some thought to. I do have a pregnant shrimp pattern that doesn't sell at all in the second half of flyfishing season. Is Mother Nature working in an almost unbelievable way or is this just unsubstantiated theory? Prof.
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Im a bit confused about some of the points in the post. The orange spot on the scuds is obviously not a parasite...unless its talking about something other then the spot that pregnant scuds obtain. First of all, if you look closely the orange spot, is located under the exoskeleton. 2ndly why would it always be located directly in the top , middle of the scud if it was just a parasite clinging to the scud? I however do 50% of my scud fishing with a pregnant scud....bows love em...they do key in on em. I think for no other reason then the fact that they stand out in a crowd. Mike
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Perhaps the parasite finds its way under the exoskeleton and imbeds itself in the fleshiest part of the scud. I really don't know. Perhaps this is a parasite that is only indigenous to Britain and perhaps only to grayling. It intrigues me and I'm going to have to contact a biologist perhaps to satisfy my curiousity but I do agree that the trout key in on them and it is a pattern I would always try first when it comes to shrimp imitations. Thanks, Prof.
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