| Remarkably enough, the above quote accurately describes my pitched battle with this fish, a 32" Talarik Creek rainbow. At my side, quick measurements showed that the marvelous fish weighed approximately 13 1/2 lbs.. The mental numbness that settles in after four days of fruitless casting and sifting through fly boxes miraculously disappeared. I had found the right fly. This jolting Alaskan experience was what I call a cardiac introduction to the simple but deadly effective Bunny Leach. So, what is the best all around Alaska fly pattern? A good case may be made for the ubiquitous "Alaska Nymph", the egg pattern. It's a good fly, however, many anglers (including me) are not entirely comfortable with pitching fake eggs, whether they be into a frying pan or wild trout water. I love fishing streamers though, so I'm still scratching my head over the huevos fly thing. Having found the Bunny Leach so effective on many different Alaskan species I more often choose to forego the bogus yolk and fish the Bunny. I think you will do the same. The best all around color for the Bunny Leach is black. Wrap a few turns of red chenille behind the eye and you have the venerable Egg Sucking Leach; include a few strands of flash tied in as an overwing and you change its personality again. Silvers love them. Late fall is a good time to try Bunnies in ginger or pink color on big rainbows feeding on salmon carcass chunks. Purple ones often equal black as a good all season long choice. Basically, this is a one material fly, easy to tie, and effective in more situations than there are compartments in your fly box. Recipe: - Hook: Mustad 80500BL, Tiemco 7999 size 2-4
- Thread: Any good strong 3/0
- Tail/Body: Rabbit fur cut in narrow 3/16" strips.
- Wrap thread from the eye back to just above the hook point. Then measure a length of rabbit strip about 1 & 1/2 the length of the hook shank. Allow the natural lay of the fur to point back. Tie the strip on with several wraps, then wrap the thread to the hook eye. Now wrap the fur forward around the shank and tie off. Trim off excess fur at the eye and finish with a well formed thread wrap. Whip finish and glue. Done!
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Bunny Leaches... don't leave home without some!
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Pete Parker