A lure for brownies/funky zonker

[Cap'n Fishy]

Don't know about you, but while I find the usual run of black lures like Vivas etc are fine for brownies, I've never liked the industry standard white lure - ie the cat's whisker - for browns. Some years ago I started to have success with a simple white zonker pattern that I had jammed at the vice one night. Body white chenille, wing/back/tail white rabbit or mink or whatever zonker strip, plus a few strands of Rutland's blue/silver flash in wing and tail. I even gave it a blue varnish head - can't remember why I had blue varnish - we are going back about 20 years here after all. It has also done well with estuary sea trout - one reason for using a stainless nickel plated hook for it.

As modern materials came in, the white chenille body gave way to polar pearl lite brite. Then, in our annual "kids let loose in a sweetie shop" trip to the WAC last week, Wee Jimmy pointed out this stuff to me... Hareline Dubbin Inc., Tiger Barred Rabbit Strips, the particular option being "Blue/Black over White". Amazing stuff - we were looking at it and trying to work out how they manage to get the tips of what has obviously started as white fur to become blue with black bars

Mind-numbing penny an hour far east sweat shop labour, or do they get some ladies' hairdresser to give its tips a blue rinse

With my blue/silver/white lure in mind... I had to get me some of that funky zonker strip

Here is the mkIII...



Col

[Former member 6]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Fishy

Don't know about you, but while I find the usual run of black lures like Vivas etc are fine for brownies, I've never liked the industry standard white lure - ie the cat's whisker - for browns. Some years ago I started to have success with a simple white zonker pattern that I had jammed at the vice one night. Body white chenille, wing/back/tail white rabbit or mink or whatever zonker strip, plus a few strands of Rutland's blue/silver flash in wing and tail. I even gave it a blue varnish head - can't remember why I had blue varnish - we are going back about 20 years here after all. It has also done well with estuary sea trout - one reason for using a stainless nickel plated hook for it.

As modern materials came in, the white chenille body gave way to polar pearl lite brite. Then, in our annual "kids let loose in a sweetie shop" trip to the WAC last week, Wee Jimmy pointed out this stuff to me... Hareline Dubbin Inc., Tiger Barred Rabbit Strips, the particular option being "Blue/Black over White". Amazing stuff - we were looking at it and trying to work out how they manage to get the tips of what has obviously started as white fur to become blue with black bars

Mind-numbing penny an hour far east sweat shop labour, or do they get some ladies' hairdresser to give its tips a blue rinse

With my blue/silver/white lure in mind... I had to get me some of that funky zonker strip

Here is the mkIII...



Col

That's a lovely flee Col and no doubt very effective too, thanks for sharing .

[craigie]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Fishy

Don't know about you, but while I find the usual run of black lures like Vivas etc are fine for brownies, I've never liked the industry standard white lure - ie the cat's whisker - for browns. Some years ago I started to have success with a simple white zonker pattern that I had jammed at the vice one night. Body white chenille, wing/back/tail white rabbit or mink or whatever zonker strip, plus a few strands of Rutland's blue/silver flash in wing and tail. I even gave it a blue varnish head - can't remember why I had blue varnish - we are going back about 20 years here after all. It has also done well with estuary sea trout - one reason for using a stainless nickel plated hook for it.

As modern materials came in, the white chenille body gave way to polar pearl lite brite. Then, in our annual "kids let loose in a sweetie shop" trip to the WAC last week, Wee Jimmy pointed out this stuff to me... Hareline Dubbin Inc., Tiger Barred Rabbit Strips, the particular option being "Blue/Black over White". Amazing stuff - we were looking at it and trying to work out how they manage to get the tips of what has obviously started as white fur to become blue with black bars

Mind-numbing penny an hour far east sweat shop labour, or do they get some ladies' hairdresser to give its tips a blue rinse

With my blue/silver/white lure in mind... I had to get me some of that funky zonker strip

Here is the mkIII...



Col

hi col,i think if you put that bad boy on the end of your leader up in uist i think the ghillie would boot you out the boat

[Billy2]

Lovely looking fly and the evolution story is great.

Billy

[corky]

Thanks for the pic Col ,nice fly.I have been having a go with streamers on the rivers the last few weeks and am well pleased with the results.Must get a hold of some of that zonker it looks the biz.
Ferg

[weemann]

Hi Col,
Dont uder estimate the Cats Whisker, fished East Loch Bee a few years ago during the evening my mate was taking broonies on it while I was taking them on Silver Sparkler, yea I know sacrilege.
cheers Geo

[craigie]

Originally Posted by weemann

Hi Col,
Dont uder estimate the Cats Whisker, fished East Loch Bee a few years ago during the evening my mate was taking broonies on it while I was taking them on Silver Sparkler, yea I know sacrilege.
cheers Geo

never

[arkle]

Very nice fly Col, as well as the story & pic. My only observation would be that you've used a non-metal rib, which looks really great on it, however I don't know how long it would last against a sharp tooth or several.

[Cap'n Fishy]

Originally Posted by arkle

Very nice fly Col, as well as the story & pic. My only observation would be that you've used a non-metal rib, which looks really great on it, however I don't know how long it would last against a sharp tooth or several.

Aye, that holo stuff is not the strongest against anything with teeth. Actually the mkI and mkII didn't have ribs - I only put this one on as I had also bought a spool of holo aqua and thought it would look nice as a rib on this fly. Probably burst with the very first take , but I can cut it off and carry on.

Col

[dabhoy]

Nice looking lure Col
Whats the best way to fish them having never fished Zonkers ,even though I do have some barred dark olive strips in my gear.