By Nick Simonson

The Double Bunny takes all the fun of a standard bunny leech for pike, bass and other predators, and allows for the addition of more color and contrast with the wiggling motion a standard rabbit strip provides in the water.  A simple tie, involving a bit of sealant and a couple drops of head cement with minimal thread work, the Double Bunny comes together quickly and can create some great streamers that will set your favorite pike water alight this spring.

MATERIALS:
Hook: Mustad 3407 Size 2 to 3/0
Thread: White 3/0
Weight: Wraps of .02 Lead
Wing: Darker Rabbit Strip
Underwing: Light Rabbit Strip
Lateral Line: 4 Strands Flash
Eyes: Stick on with Drop of Cement

CLICK HERE FOR STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

Start the fly by securing the hook in the vise and wrapping 20 wraps of .02 lead wire on the hook shank (1).  This will help the fly sink in a slower and more horizontal fashion than barbell eyes or a conehead would, though you could tie this fly up with either of those accessories.  Lay the bottom strip – typically white, gray or other lighter color – along the underside of the hook and using a needle, punch a hole in the strip where the hook shank will go through when it is pressed up against the hook.  Work the hook point through the rabbit strip (2).  Place it back in the vise, start the thread on the hook and secure the lead wire in place, keeping the strip perpendicular for now to allow easier wrapping (3).

Trim the front end of the rabbit strip to a point and secure it in the open space between the thread and the hook eye (4).  Select the top strip and lay it across the bottom strip so the ends match up; tie in the front of the top strip in the same manner as the bottom one, just behind the hook eye (5).  Once secured, take a flexible adhesive, such as Flexament or Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails, and gently brush it on to the bottom strip and over the lead wraps, taking care to keep the hair fibers out of the area.  Press and hold the two strips together and let them sit for a few minutes to get a solid connection between them (6).  Try not to use hard-drying adhesives as this will restrict the motion of the tail in the water.

To form the lateral line, tie in a few strands of magnum flashabou on each side of the streamer (7).  Once secure, whip finish and cement the thread head, and add a stick-on eye with a drop of head cement over the flashabou at the point just behind the thread head, where the body starts (8).  With that, the fly is done and ready for a rush of spring pike!

The fly can be downsized and shortened when fishing for smallmouth bass and larger trout and can be tied longer on bigger hooks when fishing for monster pike or muskies.  In the water, the tail wiggles with each strip of the line and the individual fibers pulsate as it moves, providing both macro- and micro-action all in one offering.  When wet, the fly may weigh a bit more, so big rods like eight- or ten-weights will get it out there for those hungry fish.  Set the hook hard with an angled strip-set and hold on for a good time, all thanks to the Double Bunny.

Featured Photo: Get a grab bag full of rabbit strips in various colors and go to town on creating an awesome arsenal of Double Bunnies in a variety of hues for pike and bass. Simonson Photo.