1. Secure the hook to vise. Wrap 10-15 wraps of 0.020″ lead-free wire around the shank leaving ample room behind the eye.
2. Attach the thread in front of the wire wraps.
3.Secure the wire with thread wraps and wrap the shank back to the bend of the hook.
4. Clip a clump of marabou fibers from a quill, keeping the tips somewhat even. Secure this clump at the bend of the hook just above the point. The tail length should be about the same as the hook shank length.
5. Secure the tag ends of the marabou to the hook shank with thread wraps, clipping off the excess where the lead wraps end behind the eye.
6. Add 4 strands of Krystalflash, the same length as the tail to the top of the tail. Secure the tag ends of the krystalflash to the shank and clip off the excess.
7. Attach another clump of marabou positioning it over the Krystalflash. The thickness is up to you but try not to overdo the amount of material as it will restrict it’s movement. Secure the tag ends and trim.
8. Attach a piece of Green Pearl Chenille by it’s inner thread cord to the shank just in front of the tail.
9. Wrap the chenille forward about 4-5 wraps brushing the material back as you wind forward. This should cover about 1/3 of the hook shank. Secure with thread wraps and trim off the tag end.
10. Attach another piece of Pearl Chenille Black just in front of the Green by securing the thread core to the shank.
11. Wrap forward until you get to the 3/4 position on the shank. Leave enough room to attach the rabbit collar. Secure with thread wraps and trim off the tag end.
12. Use a piece of crosscut Rabbit fur and secure on end to the hook shank just in front of the Pearl Chenille. Trimming a point on the end of the hide strip will assist in securing the hide tightly to the shank.
13. Wrap the strip just one turn. Lifting upwards on the strip will assist you in locating the proper area to secure the hide for one rotation.
14. Bring the hide downwards will assist you in securing the hide without trapping numerous fur with the thread. make sure that the strip is secured behind the eye with some room left for a thread head.
15. Trim off the tag and wrap a thread head. Whip Finish.
The Bunny Stripper was designed by Guide Arlo Townsend, Arlo’s Guide Service. Arlo guides out of Reno, Nevada and uses this pattern on Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River. It is similar to Doc’s Twin Lake Special with the Marabou Tail, Chenille Body, and Collar. However, Arlo uses Medium Pearl Chenille in two colorations that provide a contrast attractor and movement. The rabbit collar also provides a fine undulating movement when the pattern is stripped through the water.
There are some similar patterns to this that are used within the Patagonia region of Argentina. Those patterns utilize an additional zonker strip along the top of the shank, tied Matuka style. Sierran fly tier, Tim Barker (PlanetTrout), has three nice variations that he has been using on the Owens River and other Eastern Sierra streams. Here’s his link: PlanetTrout