How To Tie The Bunny Baitfish

Join Ryan as he walks us through how to tie a simple, yet extremely versatile streamer pattern!

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After a little hiatus, we are back at you with more fly tying content! Today, Ryan Brod is going to demonstrate how to tie the Bunny Baitfish, which is an extremely simple baitfish pattern that surely entice just about anything with fins. A lively mix of rabbit strips and marabou gives this fly some fantastic movement in the water and creates a fly that you will surely be able to fish with confidence no matter what you are fishing for!

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

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Materials:

Hook: Gamakatsu B10s (size 1)

Thread: UNI Waxed (6/0, White)

Eyes: Hareline Fluorescent Bead Chain Eyes (Red)

Tail: Hareline Olive-Barred Magnum Rabbit Strips (Flesh)

Foul Guard: Scientific Anglers Absolute Leader Material (50lb)

Body: Hareline X-Select Marabou Feathers (White)

Collar: Hareline Strung Saddle Hackle (White)

Step 1

Start your thread just behind the hook eye and tie in a set of red Hairline Bead Chain eyes using firm figure-8 wraps. Follow up with circular wraps beneath the eyes to really lock them in place.

Step 2

Wrap the thread back to the start of the bend and tie in a 3–4 inch section of hard mono on top of the hook shank.

Note: Ryan uses 50 lb mono here.

Step 3

Tie in a single Hairline Magnum Rabbit Strip on to the top of the hook shank, trimme it to 2–3 times the length of the hook shank. Slide your scissors through the fibers to avoid cutting them, cutting only through the leather hide.

Step 4

Use a bodkin or hook point to make a small hole on the underside of the leather hide. Push the end of the hard mono through the hole and tie the end down on top of the hook shank. Trim any excess mono.

Note: This helps prevent the rabbit strip from fouling around the hook.

Step 5

Select a single white Hairline Extra Select Marabou feather, trim away the soft brittle tip, and tie it in on top of the hook shank. Palmer the feather forward, using your thumb and forefinger to sweep the fibers back as you wrap.

Tip: Use a bodkin or the tip of your scissors to free any fibers that get trapped during wrapping.

Step 6

Select 2 Hairline Strung Saddle Feathers and strip away most of the fluffy fibers, leaving just a few. Tie them in on top of the hook shank and palmer them forward using the same technique to brush the fibers back. Finish with 2–3 whip finishes and a drop of super glue to the thread head for durability.

Your Bunny Baitfish is ready to fish!