Ok, I’m very new to tying, and I’d like to tie up some Zonkers. I’ve seen a bunch of patterns, but cannot find one that looks easy enough. The fly looks super simple, but I cannot figure out how to get the tail fibers inside of the mylat tubing body material I’m seeing on the fly. I picked up one at a local shop thinking I could use it for a pattern, but I’m stumped on this one. Does anyone know where to find a simple, easy to tie Zonker Pattern? Thanks in advance for all of your assistance!
Bwagner,
As a rule Zonkers are a fairly easy pattern to tie. I’m not sure of the pattern you were looking, so I can’t comment on how to tie it. One thing to remember, you do not have to use Mylar as a body. You can use mohair leech yarn or any other material that looks good to you and the fish. When I do want to thread materials through a tube of Mylar or anything else for that matter, I use a nylon loop which is sold to assist people in flossing. Simply start the end through the tube and feed the material through nylon loop. Then, pull the “tag end” of the flossing loop and it will pull the material through the tube.
I suggest that you look in the fly archives for several other zonker patterns and I’m sure you’ll find a good one to work on.
Good luck.
Jim Smith
Thanks for your assistance buddy. I actually purchased the mylar body tubing already, and just wanted to use it up is all.
The easiest way to tie a zonker is to start your thread and run it down to the hook bend. Then slip the mylar tube on over the eye depending if it is big enough and tie the back tip in at the hook bend. Next take your rabbit strip and place it on the hook shank above the mylar, find out where it will meet up at the hook bend and tie it in, whip finish at that spot and cut your thread off and add a dab of head cement. Now re-tie your thread in at the hook eye tie in the front tip of the mylar tube and lash down the front of the rabbit strip and build your head and whip finish off.
When I tie mine I wrap the mylar with the core still inside around the hook giving more bulk with less air pockets and in doing so I can bring the thread back up to the hook eye before wrapping the mylar without having to re-tie back in.
Because I catch so many pickeral; lately I have been using a wire rib around the whole body (matuka style) making the fly indestructible from all those pesky teeth.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
bwagner- Sounds like you are trying to tie the EZ zonker. To get the flash in the tube use something long enough to pass through the tube full length after the tube is put on the hook and before tying down the eye end of the tube. Catch the flash in your “threader” and pull it to the eye of the hook and tie it in. Then tie down the tube and add the zonker strip. All this is at the eye of the hook. The hard part is tying off the rear(for me anyway) of the zonker strip to the tube passed the bend of the hook. Hope this helps, Ron
[url=http://www.saltwaterflies.com/ezzonker.html:0c67e]http://www.saltwaterflies.com/ezzonker.html[/url:0c67e]
Not quite a Zonka but if you like it you can find a step by step guide to tying it here. [url=http://completefisher.proboards79.com/index.cgi?board=flyflytying&action=display&thread=1134224361:4aacd]http://completefisher.proboards79.com/index.cgi?board=flyflytying&action=display&thread=1134224361[/url:4aacd]
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
[This message has been edited by AlanB (edited 20 December 2005).]
I tie my zonkers like the one pictured in the previous post, but I cut rabbit strips of various sizes. Have fun experimenting.
Google “slumpbuster” and see if that will work for ya. Same idea, easier to tie, works well.
Dennis
I’ve pretty much stuck with the Virtual Minnow for a Zonker pattern the last few years. It’s easy to tie, very durable and moves better than anything I’ve ever seen in the water, with the exception of the Double-Bunny, which I also use. The pattern is in the Fly Archives for this site, and the only special equipment you need is a cheap hot-glue gun from Wal-Mart and some glue sticks. I even use the colored sticks sometimes, and omit the mylar completely. They all work great. Try one!