Zonkers again !

[Englander]

Hi Guys

Ive been playing with Zonkers again .................. this time natural. To date ive never caught a fish on a zonker pattern

Im pretty pleased with this one gave it a swim last night just to see how it looks lovely dipping action.

Its on a size 6 long shank, wondered what size "your" killer zonker patterns are and how they compare to mine ??

[Offshore]

Bottom lefthand corner... Black Death tarpon fly... lost Barbados July 2010 to a 72inch Tarpon... black zonker with 4 black hackles shiny side in, 4 bits of funkykrystal flash and red thread on shank, Bug-Bond over thread on a 2/0 Mustad C68S SS... sorry no better picture of it or the tarpon!

[casts_by_fly]

I don't tie a true 'zonker' in that there is no woven body, but I love rabbit fur streamers. I like black and dark olive dabbit fur for the main 'wing', a body of crystal flash or equivalent, a couple strips of flashabou over the wing, a fur collar of either a crosscut rabbit strip or a dubbing loop with rabbit fur, usually in a contrasting color (black over olive, lime over olive or black, red over white) and a red throat. I also normally have a bead on the head, color dependent on the other colors in the fly.

I normally tie them on #6 single salmon hooks with an upturned eye (partridge at the present) because I like how they look.

Thanks
Rick

[greenock]

Nice tie mate. What was the one you done last year with the zonnker tail and deer hair? Can't remember the name to search the thread.

[midlander]

Originally Posted by Englander

Hi Guys

Ive been playing with Zonkers again .................. this time natural. To date ive never caught a fish on a zonker pattern

Im pretty pleased with this one gave it a swim last night just to see how it looks lovely dipping action.

Its on a size 6 long shank, wondered what size "your" killer zonker patterns are and how they compare to mine ??

Here's a wee minkie for you Englander...

That's on a #8 standard shank although I do use them up to #6 L/S. I prefer mink for the movement and a 4-6lb nylon rib for durability. Silver wire shreds pretty quickly in my experience, which leaves you with a 'wing' that just tangles the cast or wraps round the hook.