How to Tie a Zonker

The Zonker is a productive streamer fly that will catch trout, bass, pike and other aggressive species that feed on bait-fish. The fly uses a flashy body to represent the lateral lines of a bait-fish and the addition of a rabbit strip adds motion to the fly. The Zonker is effective in rivers and lakes and it may be fished on a swing, dead drift or with a retrieval pattern. The fly is especially productive with an intermittent retrieve that imitates a wounded bait-fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Streamer hook
  • Rabbit strip
  • Pearl mylar tubing
  • 3/0 tying thread to match rabbit
  • Lead weight
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start the tying thread at the eye of the hook and cover the entire hook shank. Wrap lead around the hook shank leaving a gap before the bend of the hook and the eye of the hook. Cover the lead with thread wraps to ensure it is secured to the hook.

    • 2

      Wrap the thread to the bend of the hook. Push a piece of mylar tubing over the hook shank. Begin at the eye of the hook and slide the tubing forward until you reach the thread. Make several thread wraps to secure the end of the tubing to the bend in the hook.

    • 3

      Lay a rabbit strip on the hook shank with a tail extended past the bend in the hook. Measure the tail to one half the length of the hook shank and make several thread wraps to secure it in place. Stroke the fur back as you wrap the thread to create a clean finish. Use your fingers to create a triangle in the thread and half-hitch the thread into a knot. Cut the thread away from the hook.

    • 4

      Run your fingers along the tubing until you reach the eye of the hook. Wrap the thread around the tubing at the eye of the hook. Use your scissors to cut the excess tubing and expose the hook eye.

    • 5

      Pull the rabbit strip over the back of the hook. Make several tight thread wraps to secure the strip at the hook eye. Cut away the excess rabbit strip.

    • 6

      Stroke the tip of a saddle hackle to flare the fibers. Wrap the thread around the tip to secure it to the shank. Make two hackle wraps against the eye of the hook and wrap the thread to secure it to the hook. Cut away the excess hackle and use a whip finisher to knot the thread. Cut the thread away from the hook.