Zen, I did worry what that riffle hitch is going to do for the hookset alright. Using a down eye scud hook you would need to tye w/the bend of the hook upside down in order to get the hitch in front of the hookeye so it doesen't slip off. I'm fooling around using thread/glue to stabilize the hitch too, as it's not a knot.
As used on a steelhead fly the leader comes out the side of the head and they still get a hookset out of it.
A downeye straight shank might work esp. tying the scud backwards on the shank.
The swimming scud straightens out, but the resting scud is arc shaped and I plan to fish it resting mostly. Only time will tell. I won't mind missing a few strikes if I'm getting bit a lot. laugh
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