Post by Nick Pionessa on Feb 27, 2013 11:08:21 GMT -5
This type of fly has been around for a long time and for good reason. They are pretty simple to tie. They use readily available materials that come in many colors and they work very well. Any color combo is possible, but I like a contrasting wing/tail color to make the fly change color as it passes the fish. Personal favs are black with cerise tail, black with chartreuse tail and white with grey tail.
I do this version with a conehead but it can be tied without one as well. I like a cone on this pattern since it’s bulky and a little weight keeps it down with the tip. The cone also makes the fly sink more vertically which I think helps the sink rate as opposed to a horizontal sinking position. If you do want them unweighted just skip the cone, trim the tube and melt it back to the thread head.
You can tie these in any length you wish. This one is about 3.5” and with the length of the poly tube the hook will be right at the back of the fly. For longer flies make the poly tube longer or vise versa for shorter flies.
Bunny-bou black and cerise.
Cut a 1 5/8” piece off a length of HMH poly tube.
Then cut the end off at a 45º angle.
Cut a section of heavy walled liner tube about the same length.
Slip it on the mandrel with the ends close together.
Melt the end just a little to enlarge the diameter and make it grip the inside of the poly tube.
Slide it into the cut end of the poly tube
Push it in until it’s within about a ¼” of the end of the poly tube. This area will act as the junction tube.
There should be about half an inch of liner tube protruding from the cut end of the poly tube.
Slide the whole assembly into the vise mandrel.
Push it in as far as it will go since we are just tying on the end.
Start your 6/0 thread right over the angled cut securing the two tubes together.
Select a thin strip of bunny zonker.
Trim the end at a bit of an angle and tie it in right on top of the angled cut.
Select a spey type marabou feather.
Prepare the tip for tying in.
Tie the marabou in right on top of the bunny tie in.
Fold the marabou and wrap it forward over the bunny hide.
Wrap it right down until you get to the front of the cut off poly tube, tie it off and trim the stem off.
Select some mixed flashabou strands. This one is electric blue and holo fuchsia.
Loop it under the tube and tie it down with two wraps.
Pull it down and along the sides of the fly.
Select a large guinea feather for the collar and prepare it to tie in.
Tie it in just in front of the tied off marabou. Fold and wrap it forward and tie off the stem.
Clip off the stem waste, wrap a small head and whip finish off the thread.
Give it a good coat of head cement that soaks into the thread and collar a bit.
Take the fly out of the vise and pull the mandrel out of the tube.
Select a large (1/4”) cone in the color of choice. This one is black nickel.
Slide the cone onto the liner tube. Clip off the extra liner tube to within about 1/8“ of the cone.
Slide the mandrel back into the tube and have it protrude just a touch out of the liner tube. Slip the cone back on.
With a flame, melt the liner tube back against the front of the cone to secure the cone on the fly.
Add your hook of choice and you’re done. This one is a Daiichi Octopus 2553 #4. Place the hook point up for less snags and to keep the bunny strip from fouling in the hook.
Ready to fish!
I do this version with a conehead but it can be tied without one as well. I like a cone on this pattern since it’s bulky and a little weight keeps it down with the tip. The cone also makes the fly sink more vertically which I think helps the sink rate as opposed to a horizontal sinking position. If you do want them unweighted just skip the cone, trim the tube and melt it back to the thread head.
You can tie these in any length you wish. This one is about 3.5” and with the length of the poly tube the hook will be right at the back of the fly. For longer flies make the poly tube longer or vise versa for shorter flies.
Bunny-bou black and cerise.
Cut a 1 5/8” piece off a length of HMH poly tube.
Then cut the end off at a 45º angle.
Cut a section of heavy walled liner tube about the same length.
Slip it on the mandrel with the ends close together.
Melt the end just a little to enlarge the diameter and make it grip the inside of the poly tube.
Slide it into the cut end of the poly tube
Push it in until it’s within about a ¼” of the end of the poly tube. This area will act as the junction tube.
There should be about half an inch of liner tube protruding from the cut end of the poly tube.
Slide the whole assembly into the vise mandrel.
Push it in as far as it will go since we are just tying on the end.
Start your 6/0 thread right over the angled cut securing the two tubes together.
Select a thin strip of bunny zonker.
Trim the end at a bit of an angle and tie it in right on top of the angled cut.
Select a spey type marabou feather.
Prepare the tip for tying in.
Tie the marabou in right on top of the bunny tie in.
Fold the marabou and wrap it forward over the bunny hide.
Wrap it right down until you get to the front of the cut off poly tube, tie it off and trim the stem off.
Select some mixed flashabou strands. This one is electric blue and holo fuchsia.
Loop it under the tube and tie it down with two wraps.
Pull it down and along the sides of the fly.
Select a large guinea feather for the collar and prepare it to tie in.
Tie it in just in front of the tied off marabou. Fold and wrap it forward and tie off the stem.
Clip off the stem waste, wrap a small head and whip finish off the thread.
Give it a good coat of head cement that soaks into the thread and collar a bit.
Take the fly out of the vise and pull the mandrel out of the tube.
Select a large (1/4”) cone in the color of choice. This one is black nickel.
Slide the cone onto the liner tube. Clip off the extra liner tube to within about 1/8“ of the cone.
Slide the mandrel back into the tube and have it protrude just a touch out of the liner tube. Slip the cone back on.
With a flame, melt the liner tube back against the front of the cone to secure the cone on the fly.
Add your hook of choice and you’re done. This one is a Daiichi Octopus 2553 #4. Place the hook point up for less snags and to keep the bunny strip from fouling in the hook.
Ready to fish!
