Tying Zonkers

I have some strips of squirel and need some big bushy streamers, acn someone give me some tips on tying these flies? Hook to use? Body material? How to attach strips?

Thanks
Doug

check out the fly of the week archives for zonked sqirrel streamer. someday I'll figure out how to post a link to it but for now you'll just have to look.

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all leaders tangle; mine are just better at it than most. Jim



[This message has been edited by rainbowchaser (edited 28 August 2005).]

Hi Doug....Zonkers are great flys! For the hook, a 4XL streamer hook will be fine.......the body can be just about anything.....dubbing, sparkle yarn, or one of the body tubing material available.
I've seen a couple different ways of attaching the strip. I like this one.....tie in a ribbing material(wire, thread, mono, etc.) at the back of the body. Make your body and tie in the squirrel strip at the front .....pull the strip back and use the ribbing to attach it at the back and bind it down along the body matuka style. Tie off the rib and make a head. Easy!.....have fun!...Jason

to add to jason's instructions...I make two wraps of wire at the bend tie in for security/durability's sake. I also like to add a red throat and a collar hackle of the color of my (your choice).

it is a damn good fly.

mgj

[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/051605fotw.html:8fa0d]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/051605fotw.html[/url:8fa0d]

Or you can use the squirrel strip instead of the feather as in these flies [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/061305fotw.html:8fa0d]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/061305fotw.html[/url:8fa0d] [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/110402fotw.html:8fa0d]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/110402fotw.html[/url:8fa0d]

Zonkers are also tied with mylar tube bodies as shown here [url=http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/zonkers.htm:8fa0d]http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/zonkers.htm[/url:8fa0d]

or you could make some of these sort of in the Clouser ?tradition?. [url=http://www.flyfisherman.com/ftb/Red%20Neck%20Rabbit.pdf:8fa0d]http://www.flyfisherman.com/ftb/Red%20Neck%20Rabbit.pdf[/url:8fa0d]

Hey thanks for the tips. I tried tying some tonight and realized the the strips I had were pretty bad, I could pull the hair off and they weren't as full as I would like.

Im tying them up in hopes of big brook trout in september, I've heard purple is a good color. So maybe I'll get some dyed rabbit strips.

Thanks agian
Doug