November FOTM - The Bunny Fly
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2021 6:01 pm
November’s fly of the month is the Bunny fly. This fly is a baitfish pattern that has tremendous movement (once zonker strip is properly wetted) in the water due to the fine rabbit hair on the zonker strips used in its construction. Pretty much any fish that eats baitfish can be caught on this fly including all Trevally species, Queenfish, Cobia, all Mackerel species, Giant Herring, Tailor, most Emperor species, most Tuna species, all Cod species, Mahi Mahi, Australian Salmon (Kahawai), Samson fish, Barramundi, Mangrove jack, Tarpon, Threadfin salmon etc etc. Often tied in all white in about a 2/0 size, there are many other pattern variations and colour combinations possible depending on the size & colour of the baitfish you are trying to represent or if you’re trying to provoke a territorial response or the water conditions (dirty/clear). A 4/0 Bunny fly with a snag guard is awesome for prospecting around the mangroves or rock bars and small creeks and is my personal go to fly for Barramundi in the snags, but can also be fished in a burley trail or weighted (ball sinker in the loop knot) and fished deep and deserves a place in your fly box for fly fishing in our countries north in my opinion.
Recipe: in order of tying.
Hook – Size 1/0# - 4/0# Gamakatsu SL12S or smaller sizes for scaled down versions.
Thread – Flat waxed 210 denier in a colour to suit the colour fly being tied.
Eyes – Large beadchain.
Tail wrap guard – Small section of 60lb monofilament, formed into a loop and tied in on top of the hook shank extending about 1 - 1.5cms beyond the hook bend.
Tail – 1 length of rabbit zonker strip (or magnum strip) approx 2.0 x the hook length. Cut the tail end (skin) of the zonker strip to a point to create some taper then tie in skin side down on top of the hook shank and wrap guard roughly in line with the hook barb.
You can add some lead wire around the hook shank for weight if desired at this stage.
Body under wrap – 1.5 inch EP Anadromus or Shrimp dub brush, tie in at tail tie in point and palmer forward about 4 wraps up the hook shank towards the eyes and tie off. This provides some bulk and flash as well as creating some micro currents for the rabbit strip head to flow over.
Head/collar – Palmer about 4 wraps of a crosscut rabbit strip from the under body to just behind the eyes and tie off. The colour of the head can be the same as the tail or contrasting if you prefer.
You can add monofilament weed/snag guide between the hook eye and beadchain eyes if required at this stage.
Apply a small amount of superglue, thin UV resin or headset to the thread finish point and cure to improve fly longevity. Take care not to get glue, resin or headset onto the zonker strip or it will bleed into the fine hair/fibres sticking them together and severely effecting the movement of the material.
Tie fly onto a 30lb-40lb fluorocarbon bite tippet with a lefty’s loop knot to allow for maximum movement. Usually retrieved using small to long single strips depending on the fishing situation or species being targeted, get some in your box now.
Recipe: in order of tying.
Hook – Size 1/0# - 4/0# Gamakatsu SL12S or smaller sizes for scaled down versions.
Thread – Flat waxed 210 denier in a colour to suit the colour fly being tied.
Eyes – Large beadchain.
Tail wrap guard – Small section of 60lb monofilament, formed into a loop and tied in on top of the hook shank extending about 1 - 1.5cms beyond the hook bend.
Tail – 1 length of rabbit zonker strip (or magnum strip) approx 2.0 x the hook length. Cut the tail end (skin) of the zonker strip to a point to create some taper then tie in skin side down on top of the hook shank and wrap guard roughly in line with the hook barb.
You can add some lead wire around the hook shank for weight if desired at this stage.
Body under wrap – 1.5 inch EP Anadromus or Shrimp dub brush, tie in at tail tie in point and palmer forward about 4 wraps up the hook shank towards the eyes and tie off. This provides some bulk and flash as well as creating some micro currents for the rabbit strip head to flow over.
Head/collar – Palmer about 4 wraps of a crosscut rabbit strip from the under body to just behind the eyes and tie off. The colour of the head can be the same as the tail or contrasting if you prefer.
You can add monofilament weed/snag guide between the hook eye and beadchain eyes if required at this stage.
Apply a small amount of superglue, thin UV resin or headset to the thread finish point and cure to improve fly longevity. Take care not to get glue, resin or headset onto the zonker strip or it will bleed into the fine hair/fibres sticking them together and severely effecting the movement of the material.
Tie fly onto a 30lb-40lb fluorocarbon bite tippet with a lefty’s loop knot to allow for maximum movement. Usually retrieved using small to long single strips depending on the fishing situation or species being targeted, get some in your box now.