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March 2002
by Rich Johnson
Double Bunny (Salmon & Trout) Notes: This Fly of the Month comes as a special request. And, because of the style of fly the Double Bunny is, this month's instructions are double in length. The Double Bunny leads a double life, requiring two different tying styles. The first tying style seems to be the most popular in the fly sections of catalogs and looks as if it's designed for salmon, saltwater, and larger species. The second style is a modification along the same thought, but seems to be suited more for trout. Both are featured, one after another, because after all this is March and what else are we to do in early spring except tie flies.
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Salmon
Hook: Bass, Salmon, Saltwater; depending on usage
Thread: Danville Plus, color to match top body color
Weight: optional, but not advised
Tail: Bunny strips, an extension of the body
Body: Bunny Strips, contrasting colors (top & bottom)
Sides: Krystal Flash, compliment body
Eyes: 3-D Molded Eyes, 3mm
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1) Using your hook (#2 salmon/steelhead) pierce the bottom bunny strip (chartreuse) approximately a shank length up from the end of the hide. Put the hook through in the middle of the strip.
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2) Place the hook into the vise with the bunny strip pushed down away from the bend of the hook. Start your thread behind the eye and wrap a thread base to the bend of the hook.
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3) Tie in the top bunny strip (black) as you would normally, binding the hide to the top of the shank. You need to leave as much leather to the rear of the tie-in spot as you left trailing on the bottom strip. Bring your thread forward.
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4) Build a bump of thread slightly behind the eye. ( This is just back from the normal tie off spot.) Measure the top bunny strip to reach just to the bump and cut off the excess to the front.
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5) Pull the top bunny strip up and tie down on top of the thread bump with tight wraps. Rotate the vise (or invert the fly).
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6) Apply bonding cement to the thread wraps covering the hook shank. Carefully apply cement to the tail section of the top bunny strip.
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7) Swing the bottom bunny strip around and while pulling the strip forward against the hook. Match the tail sections and press them together. Be careful of excess cement gumming up the hair. Lay the forward part of the strip along the shank and again press the strips together, being careful of excess glue. Split the hair at the thread bump and tie down with four or five firm wraps. Trim the excess.
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8) Rotate the fly upright. Fold and tie in three to four strands of Krystal Flash (lime green) on both sides of the bonded strips. (After the sides were tied in I pressed them into the glue seam just behind the tie in spot.)
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9) Wrap a smooth predominate head tapered to the eye of the hook. Whip finish and seal with head cement. Allow the head cement to dry.
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10) Place a dab of bonding cement just behind the head of the fly on both sides of the fly. Apply 3mm 3-D eyes (red) on each side and allow to dry.
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This pattern lends itself to endless color combinations, Dan Bailey's latest catalog lists four different patterns for saltwater and three for fresh water. Try - purple/hot pink; black/fuchsia; red/white; olive/white; natural/white.
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Trout
Hook: 3X Long Streamer
Thread: 6/0, white and black, or color to match top body color
Weight: .025
Body: Flat Tinsel
Tail: Extension of upper and lower Bunny strips
Underbody: Bunny strip, light color
Wing: Bunny strip, dark color
Head: Thread
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1) Lead your hook shank and then wrap tapered ends with the white thread. Leave your thread at the rear of the body.
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2) Attach the flat tinsel at the rear of the body. Wrap forward, and then to the rear, tying off at the back of the body. (I am using prismatic mylar tinsel, but gold, silver, or pearl will each have their own effect.)
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3) Turn the fly over and tie in just the tip of the leather on a bunny strip. You need to make sure to stroke the hairs backwards and that the leather faces up when the fly is inverted.
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4) Turn the fly up right and tie in the dark bunny strip on top as you would a zonker strip. Measure the length of the tail to be slightly longer than the fur from the bottom strip. Whip finish and cement the wraps.
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5) Attach your black thread to the shank just behind the eye. Bring the top bunny strip forward. Separate the hairs at the tie in spot to expose the hide. Tie down with a few tight wraps and trim the excess.
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6) Invert the fly again and repeat the same process with the lighter bunny strip. Make sure the bunny strip is secure before you cut the excess away.
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7) Build up a thread head, half-hitch and whip finish. A coat or two of head cement always looks good on a streamer pattern. For a smaller Double Bunny that's designed to imitate small fish stay with natural colors in a dark on top/ light on bottom scheme.
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