Material List
Step 1: Apply thread to shank of hook creating a nice baselayer.
Step 2: Once baselayer has been built, work thread to right behind eye of the hook. Flip or rotate hook to tie in brass eyes underneath the hook shank. Use figure 8 wraps until eyes are tightly attached to hook shank.
Step 3: Rotate or flip hook back to right-side-up, work thread back to bend of hook to tie in a piece of chenille at back of fly.
Step 4: Measure out about a hook-shank length of rabbit strip, split the hair at this point and make a few wraps with thread to secure the rabbit strip to top of the hook shank. Make sure the hair fibers naturally flow towards the rear of the fly.
Step 5: Once the tail material is secure, work the thread forward to behind the dumbbell eyes.
Step 6: Now it’s time to wrap the chenille, first wrap overtop the thread wraps that secured the rabbit strip, then wrap the chenille forward (on the hook shank only) towards the eyes. Tie off the chenille right behind the eyes and cut off the extra material.
Step 7: Fold the rabbit strip over top the chenille and tie it off right behind the eyes and cut off the excess material
Step 8: Take long fibered dubbing, in this case Ice Dub, pull out a clump of dubbing and as best as you can align the fibers length-wise. Tie the clump of dubbing in the middle with about 2 wraps of thread. Once secured pull fibers back and make a few wraps in front, repeat this step until you’ve built up desired thickness behind the eye.
Step 9: Tie in a small pinch of dark deer or elk hair on top of shank behind the eyes.
Step 10: Work thread in front of eyes, repeat the dubbing process from before, just in front of the eyes this time, build up to desired thickness.
Step 11: Tie in another clump of deer or elk hair in front of the eyes, wrap snuggly but not too tight that the fibers start to flare out. Build a small head and whip finish.
Step 12: Add head cement, let dry, then take to nearest water and start chucking.
Tie this pattern in a variety of colors to represent specific baitfish or get creative and make some attractors such as this one. Rabbit strip zonkers are at the top of my favorite streamer patterns, they’re highly effective and easy to tie, whip a few up and show us what decided to bite by tagging Fishwest in your photo.