Why don't any of you try some rabbit?

[Buckeye Mike]

I have used the cut off skin method, for 3 or 4 years know, and i tied mine on a 1/80 or 1/64 0z. on the bodied jig head, and i use the Magnum zonker strips. Rabbit has great action in the water, and gills Love'em. Quick and easy tie.

[Decoy Carver]

I use quite a bit of rabbit, I cut my own strips to any size I need by using a Fabric Cutter, have for years works well

[skiptomylu]

Okay here it is, the video of a home made zonker cutter. Now I am not saying this is safe and as a matter of fact I am not going to start dying skins and making my own zonkers as I am sure I would cut my self and since I am on blood thinners it just wouldn't be smart. I can see it now rushing to the hospital with big cuts that will not stop bleeding, LOL so no thanks for me.

Skip
Here is it...
YouTube - Make Your Own Zonker Strip Cutter

[CrappieKillerJigs]

i think the best way to cut strips is a 1x6 board and a sharp razor blade....lay it out on the board and slice away....

[AWMiller]

I love rabbit and you know that Skip!! However I haven't made the full change to use it much on my crappie jigs but I use the heck out of it on my bass jigs and on my bluegill/trout jigs!! I have used it for tails on my crappie jigs but never on the bodies.... but just might give it a try sometime!

That rabbit just breeeeeeeeathes in the water!!!


Bass Jigs


Crappie Jigs



Bluegill/Trout

[skiptomylu]

AW I especially like your bass jig on the top pic and yes it is really live stuff in the water. When I use it for a tail I use the zonker, is that what you had done on the other pics?

Skip

[AWMiller]

AW I especially like your bass jig on the top pic and yes it is really live stuff in the water. When I use it for a tail I use the zonker, is that what you had done on the other pics?

Skip

Thanks for the compliment on the bass jigs Skip!! The chartreuse portion of each of them are the zonker strips while the olive, black, and black/olive are all marabou (just so folks won't think the whole underbody is rabbit.


Now to your tail question....

Not with the skins.... I clipped the hairs as close to the skin as possible.... (I know you don't like that method... hehehee!!)

On my bass jigs it's all skin cause I need that portion to assist with the wrapping and creating a good firm body.

On my bluegill/trout jigs I clip off the rabbit fur from skin because of the small size of the hook & body.... however I am working on a new method that will include skin but I'm cutting that small piece off of the bulk patch that is on the cross-cut skins.

On those crappie jigs pictured, it's the same as what I did on the bluegill/trout fligs (not my term, saw it somewhere, like it and use it!).

So on my zonker strips, I'll use the longer hairs for my crappie jigs and the shorter hairs on my bluegill/trout fligs.

[skiptomylu]

Thanks for the compliment on the bass jigs Skip!! The chartreuse portion of each of them are the zonker strips while the olive, black, and black/olive are all marabou (just so folks won't think the whole underbody is rabbit.


Now to your tail question....

Not with the skins.... I clipped the hairs as close to the skin as possible.... (I know you don't like that method... hehehee!!)

On my bass jigs it's all skin cause I need that portion to assist with the wrapping and creating a good firm body.

On my bluegill/trout jigs I clip off the rabbit fur from skin because of the small size of the hook & body.... however I am working on a new method that will include skin but I'm cutting that small piece off of the bulk patch that is on the cross-cut skins.

On those crappie jigs pictured, it's the same as what I did on the bluegill/trout fligs (not my term, saw it somewhere, like it and use it!).

So on my zonker strips, I'll use the longer hairs for my crappie jigs and the shorter hairs on my bluegill/trout fligs.

It's not that I don't like it (talking about cutting hair off the skin), but I just feel it would stay on better and it should have more action and the base of the hair is not tied down??

Just asking here as I am more fowling the fly tying guys as I feel they have probably tried it all.

Skip

[AWMiller]

It's not that I don't like it (talking about cutting hair off the skin), but I just feel it would stay on better and it should have more action and the base of the hair is not tied down??

Just asking here as I am more fowling the fly tying guys as I feel they have probably tried it all.

Skip

Aw I was just picking on ya Skip!! Some methods I'll leave the skin on and some I'll take the skin off... kind of like cooking with chicken! hahahaha!!!

On some of my trout flies, I'll use chartreuse or hot pink rabbit on top and it acts as a visual for me so that I can see the jig real good on the water. Or it my fly calls for a parachute, then I'll sometime sub in rabbit.

But it certainly has a lot of uses in tying!!

[skiptomylu]

You know AW I just got my fly rod about a year or a little longer back, but I did have one as a kid. Now I just wish I had kept it up as much as I did other rods and reels. I just kind of feel left out at this point.

I mean I still can do it now and all that, but I must think how much fun I could have had while catching all the fish I have caught. Like when I lived 11 years in Ingleside TX. (near Corpus) and caught lust loads of red fish and that would have been awesome on a fly rod. I caught tons of them that were like 12 -14 pound range and in shallow flats so the run they do there is something special. I always used lures and never live bait so the fly rod should have been right in with that.

Just regret,

Skip