Tarpon Bunny
The Tarpon Bunny is a simple and highly effective saltwater streamer built around rabbit strips, which produce excellent movement even with a slow retrieve. Although its exact origin is uncertain, Jack Gartside wrote that he first encountered an early version tied by Ken Miyata in the mid-1970s. The pattern is primarily used for tarpon, but it is also productive for snook and other predatory saltwater species. It can be fished with short strips, steady pulls, or allowed to sink slowly in front of cruising fish. Tarpon Bunnies are commonly tied in several sizes and color combinations, with durable hooks, sparse proportions, and a tail that resists fouling being especially important.
Tied the Tarpon Bunny?
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Recipe
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Hook · Mustad 34007, sizes 1 through 3/0
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Thread · 140 Denier, color to match rabbit strips
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Tail · Rabbit strip
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Collar · Cross-cut rabbit strip
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Eyes · Holographic Eyes (optional)
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Collar · Schlappen
Tying Instructions
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1
Lay a base of thread in the color of your choice on the back half of the hook shank.
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2
Tie in a piece of monofilament at the bend of the hook as a guard to prevent fouling.
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3
Tie in a rabbit strip on top of the back of the hook shank right at the bend. Some tiers will tie the furry part of the rabbit strip facing down. Tarpon will often be looking up at the fly, so there will be more motion visible to the fish.
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4
Poke a hole in the bottom of the rabbit strip with a bodkin and feed the monofilament through the hole. Tie the loose end of the mono back down on the hook shank. Some tiers choose to make quite a few wraps of thread 360 degrees around the base of the tail to create a post.
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5
Tie in a cross-cut rabbit stripin front of the tail and wrap it forward 3 or 4 times depending on your desired thickness and tie it off. You should not wrap the rabbit forward past the halfway point of the hook shank.
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6
Wind your thread back over the very front of the wrapped rabbit strip to help compress the fur fibers. It may help to dampen the fur before doing this.
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7
Tie in the schlappen right in front of the rabbit and palmer it forward several turns. Make sure you have a nicely tapered head, then whip finish and cover with head cement.
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8
If you want to use eyes, you can either use small holographic eyes or paint them on. Coat with head cement.
