The ultimate heavyweight head for deep-swimming, hook-up streamers.

Best of Show – Fly Tying Materials: 2011 International Fly Tackle Dealer Show

Black and Brown in limited sizes still available to order.

See the new Bandito Sculpin Head for the updated range

Tie heavyweight streamers with realistic, flat and broad profiles; the perfect imitation for common bottom-dwelling fish species such as sculpins, gobies and baby catfish. Designed for use on both hook and tube streamers, the Sculpin Helmet has a weighted keel to keep your streamer swimming hook-up and avoid snagging.

Quantity per pack: 8

• Video
• Features
• Specifications
• How to use
• FAQs

• Realistic profile
  Flat and broad profile that imitates common bottom-dwelling fish species such as sculpins, gobies and baby catfish.

  Front-fitting design
  Simply tie in all materials first, then fit the Sculpin Helmet from the front. Quick and easy to use.

  Front slot
  Allows for use on both hook and tube flies.

  Fish-Skull® Living Eyes™
  Included in a corresponding size and color, these ultra-realistic 3mm Living Eyes act as an important trigger for predatory game fish.

  Heavyweight Keel
  Distributes most of the helmet’s weight to the bottom of the streamer, ensuring it will swim in the correct position. This also allows you to tie with the hook facing either down or up. We have deliberately made the Sculpin Helmet significantly heavier than the Baitfish Head so that it will sink quickly in fast moving rivers and fish deeper near the bottom where sculpins typically live.

  Colors
  Available in brown and olive, the matte (non-shiny) finish is perfect for the type of shy, bottom-dwelling species you are trying to imitate. The special oxide coating gives an uneven, almost blotchy, effect that has differing shades of color. For example, the brown color Sculpin Helmet is mostly a dark brown color, but will also reflect shades of black and tan at different angles giving a type of camouflage effect.

• Mini
  Fits hook sizes #10, #8, #6, #4, #2.

  Small
  Fits hook sizes #6, #4, #2, #1

  Note: The Mini is designed with a specially enlarged front slot to fit a wider range of hook sizes. This increased flexibility in hook sizes allows the Mini to be used in a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater streamer patterns.

• After tying in all your materials, complete the streamer by simply fitting the Sculpin Helmet from the front and finish off by tying a small thread dam between the skull and the hook eye.

  1. Start by building your streamer; tie in all the tail, body and wing materials. Wrap a small thread-head and tie off your thread. Make sure you leave a generous gap between your thread-head and the eye of the hook to have room to fit the helmet.

  2. Coat your thread wraps lightly with some Zap-A-Gap or similar glue and then fit the helmet from the front of the streamer. Position in place and make any final adjustments to your materials.

  3. Re-attach your tying thread between the helmet and the eye of the hook and wrap a thread-dam to lock the helmet firmly in place. Tie off and cement the thread wraps.

  4. Finish the streamer by sticking on the Living Eyes.
  
  Step-by-steps for tying flies with the Sculpin Helmet such as the Skull Daddy Crayfish or Foxy Shrimp.
  
  

• Q: Where are Sculpin Helmets made?

  A: In the USA at our South Carolina facility.
  

  
  Q: What are the Baitfish Helmets made of?
  
  A: They are made of a light-weight alloy comprised mainly of Zinc, which means it adds weight, but remains light enough to cast with a fly rod. There is no lead whatsoever in the product making it environmentally friendly.

  
  
  Q: Can I use the Sculpin Helmet for tube flies?

  A: Yes. The front slot has been designed so that both hooks and tube flies can be tied. The Mini and Small sizes fit a 3/32″ (2.4mm) diameter tub.

  
  Q: What is the keel?

  A: Streamers tied with the Sculpin Helmet are designed to fish deep in the hook-up position to avoid getting caught on the bottom. To achieve this, the Sculpin Helmet is made so that 70% of it’s weight and the center of gravity is situated below the shank of the hook. This heavyweight keel, or bottom, gives a dumbbell effect to the streamer, which means it will always ride in the hook-up position and track straight.

  
  Q: How much do they weigh?

  A: We have deliberately made the Sculpin Helmet significantly heavier than the Baitfish Head so it will sink quickly in fast moving rivers and fish deeper near the bottom where Sculpins typically live.

  Mini size weighs 0.55 grams (0.02 ounces). We recommend you use a minimum rod/line weight size of #4 and higher.
  
  Small size weighs 1.38 grams ( 0.05 ounces). We recommend you use a minimum rod/line weight size #5/6 and higher.