My local PBS station runs a fly tying show produced at Washington State
University (go WAZZU). As they were tying a scud recently, one of the
pair of tyers asked the other why he didn't use a curved hook. He
answered that, although scuds curled up in your hand and in a sampling
net, when they swam free, they were straightened out.
Therefore, he added, it appealed only to the fisherman to use curved
hooks, not to the fish.
It has been so long since I fished a "scud area" that I don't remember.
These guys seemed to know what they were talking about.
YMMV

cheers

oz, checking out Current River gold medal water next week.