Another Double Bunny question

[Ray Kunz]

When tying a Double Bunny I have two layers of bunny strip tied and bonded to the hook shank. One on the top and one on the bottom with their front tips tapered a bit at the eye. So far so good. Now comes the difficulty.

I want to place molded eyes just a little bit back from the bunny tie-in point so I get a little bit of bunny hair color in front of the eyes. This leaves me with the problem of having to mount the eyes on top of the bonded edges of bunny skin that stick out sideways like a pair of football player's shoulder pads instead of providing a nice flat surface for the eyes. A plain all-hairwing version doesn't have this problem but it also doesn't have the nice wiggling tail. Is this a trade-off I must make?

What are your suggestions?.

[RCream]

What about using dumbell eyes? I guess that's no good if you didn't want a weighted fly.

[ducksterman]

When I don't want weighted eyes I use either mono eyes or a cylinder of foam punched out of foam sandals....the foam can be painted.


I can see though neither would have that look Ray probably wants that those self gluing eyes give.

[Jeremy]

When tying a Double Bunny I have two layers of bunny strip tied and bonded to the hook shank. One on the top and one on the bottom with their front tips tapered a bit at the eye. So far so good. Now comes the difficulty.

I want to place molded eyes just a little bit back from the bunny tie-in point so I get a little bit of bunny hair color in front of the eyes. This leaves me with the problem of having to mount the eyes on top of the bonded edges of bunny skin that stick out sideways like a pair of football player's shoulder pads instead of providing a nice flat surface for the eyes. A plain all-hairwing version doesn't have this problem but it also doesn't have the nice wiggling tail. Is this a trade-off I must make?

What are your suggestions?.

Ray,
I'm going out on a limb here, never having done it! You asked, so I'll give my best at what I'd "try"....

How about taking some VERY heavy mono, as heavy as you can find. Heck, you could even experiment with something else...the tooth from a flexible, plastic comb or??

Anyway, tie this in first, right where you'd want the eyes to be, using the same criss/cross as for clouser eyes. Use a pair of nippers to clip to desired length but leaving a little for melting with a lighter. Melt a "blob" on each end and use some spit on your finger to tap it right before it dries to flatten the melted portion a little. This would provide a base for some epoxy to get formed around.

Tie your fly as usual. When finished, this melted portion is extending just a little out from the bunny strips, enough to allow a "glob" of 5 min. epoxy to be formed around it. Then before that epoxy totally dries push a small, self-adhesive, thin, stick-on eye into the glob of epoxy. I'm thinking those paper thin eyes you peel from a strip.

Tricky...it might take some toying with. How bad you willin' to play around? *Grins*

I tried for you. Best I can come up with Ray.

Jeremy.

[RG/AR]

Weed-eater line.

[gonfishn]

Apply a little goop or shoe-goo to your desired points for placement of the eyes stroke the hair back and place your eyes pressing them firmly into the adhesive.Don't know if it will work for you but its how I do mine.

[Jeremy]

Weed-eater line.

Perfect!!!

[Flyguy5910]

i little trick i use is when you cut the bunny strips cut them so that they are rounded off not straight across, this way when you tie it down the wrap around the shank of the hook

[mohawkriverdan]

Weed-eater line.

Awesome idea! Why didn't I think of that?

[mr. blur]

i little trick i use is when you cut the bunny strips cut them so that they are rounded off not straight across, this way when you tie it down the wrap around the shank of the hook

good tip here guys.

I usually cut a point in and trim the fur at tthe tie in spot.
double bunnies rock.