Page Rogers' Classic Saltwater Patterns
Copyright ©1997 Page Rogers
THE BONITO BUNNY FLY
By Page Rogers, contributing editor
Materials List
- Hook: TMC 800S; Daiichi 2546; Mustad 77660SS; Partridge CS52; Eagle Claw 254SS - Sizes 6-1/0
- Thread: Danville’s Flat Waxed Nylon - White
- Tail: Mono
loop of 20 lb Mason Hard Nylon monofilament
Strip of rabbit - white
Polarflash Color #2001 - Body:Cross-cut rabbit - white
- Eye: Witchcraft 2mm - silver, covered with light coat of five minute epoxy
The Bonito Bunny Fly is a relatively "modern" classic, having been developed in the last 10 years by Vineyard angler and guide, Jamie Boyle. Like the other flies in this series the Bunny is simple, yet very effective. It can be made in a variety of sizes and colors; though the original concept was in white. It imitates a variety of forage species through its color, silhouette and action as it swims in the water. It’s action is worth special mention. Boyle designed the tail of the fly so that it is as foul-proof as possible, but without sacrificing the wiggling action of that bunny tail as it moves through the water. The body of the fly is made of cross-cut rabbit, palmered forward, creating a fly body that pulses and breathes as it swims. The Bunny can imitate a sand eel, spearing, baby bunker, butterfish or juvie herring wriggling to escape the maw of a hungry bonito; it is also particularly effective where game fish of any kind are feeding on juvenile squid. A number of years ago I had a memorable afternoon at the shoal named Hedge Fence in Nantucket Sound where I boated over a dozen bonito; all of them were spitting up baby squid not more than two inches long. Our Bunnies, tied short and full on size 2 hooks, fit the bill perfectly. I have taken every northeast saltwater game fish on this fly. When in doubt I often tie on a Bunny; it is as effective a searching pattern as a Clouser.
The fly is surprisingly tough. The following may surprise you: rabbit hair and marabou are very durable fibers when wet, because their fibers are not hollow. Buck tail, on the other hand, is a hollow fiber, which fills with water and weakens. It is then easily sheared, either by excessive flexing or friction from a fish’s mouth or teeth. You might want to substitute marabou in fly recipes that call for buck tail (in Deceiver bellies and wings, for example) and see how much longer your flies last. Also Deceiver fly bodies of cross-cut rabbit are also very durable, and help sink a fly as well (when that’s desired).
The Bunny is easy and inexpensive to tie. Consider purchasing entire rabbit hides and cutting them up in advance of your tying. During bonito and albie season I usually have an entire box of Bunnies in a variety of sizes and colors. Don’t neglect colors like chartreuse or fluorescent yellow - many Spanish mackerel and huge bluefish have fallen for Bunnies in the hotter end of the spectrum.
Tying Sequence
Place hook in vise and attach tying thread, cover entire hook shank with thread. Cut a piece of 20 lb. Mason Hard Nylon monofilament about two inches long. Tie in at hook eye, create loop in the monofilament so that it extends slightly past the hook bend, then tie down back up to hook eye. Cut off leftover monofilament and coat mono and tying thread with Flexament.Step One
Step Two
Tie in a strip of rabbit fur (with skin) on top of the mono loop. I like to tie this in skin side "up". Top this with Pearl Polarflash - Color #2001 (or Pearl Flashabou or Krystal Flash).
Step Three
With thread behind hook point, tie in a strip of cross-cut rabbit. Tie it in so that the hair fibers are sweeping "back" toward the hook bend end of the fly, as shown in the photo. Now move your tying thread up to the hook eye.
Now palmer the cross cut rabbit forward, keep good tension on the rabbit strip, making sure that each wrap is seated well and will not slip. Tie off the rabbit. Build a nice bullet head of thread, while working a spare amount of Flexament into the fly head. Be careful you don’t get Flexament into the rabbit hair. Now you can either paint on an eye or affix a 2mm silver Witchcraft eye, and carefully coat the fly head with a light coating of five minute epoxy. Time to go fishing!
Step Four
©Copyright: Page Rogers 1998 All rights reserved
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