Warmwater Fly Pattern

Bunny Crawler by Craig Dennison

Hook:    Mustad 9672 size 2 through 6.
Thread:    Olive 6/0
Weight:    (Optional) Lead wire wrapped around shank as desired, or bound along either side.  Sizes .035 down to .015.
Body:    Single strip of olive rabbit cut 1/4" to 3/8" width.
Legs:    Medium round rubber legs, olive or chartreuse.
Eyes:    Lead eyes or bead chain eyes.

Tying Sequence

1. Start thread behind the eyes and create a valley for the lead/bead chain eyes on top of the hook shank.  Tie in eyes behind hook eye.  Wrap in eyes firmly and secure thread wraps with super glue.

2. Wrap the hook shank with thread and tie in desired amount of weight.  Once weight is secure, cover it entirely with thread wraps and cement or super glue thread wraps.

3. Cut end of rabbit strip to a tapered point.   Tail should be approximately 3/4 length of hook shank.  Tie in tapered end with rabbit skin facing up and fur down, slightly past the bend of the hook.  Rabbit skin should be facing upward like the eyes.

4. Wrap thread forward so that it is resting just behind eyes.  With longer tag end of rabbit strip, wrap a plush body so that no skin is showing.  Smooth back the fur as you wrap.

5. In the upper half of the hook shank and behind eyes, tie in two sets of legs on top of the hook.  Trim them to length later after tying off.

6. Continue to wrap rabbit strip forward.   Wrap around the legs, and on top of  and below eyes.  One strip should be placed neatly between the eyes both top and bottom.  Push back the rabbit fur as needed, wetting the fur makes it more manageable.

7. Closely cut the rabbit strip and build a head.   Whip finish and coat head with super glue or two layers of cement.

Notes:  This is a consistent smallmouth bass fly for me in the local Western North Carolina rivers.  It is also effective in brown, black, and other subdued colors.  I designed this fly for durability and depth.  The rabbit fur provides great movement, combined with the action of rubber legs.  The lead eyes tied on top of the shank reduce the number of snags and it is an easy pattern to tie.  It works both stripped and dead drifted.  Give it a try and enjoy !

Craig Dennison  Asheville NC  

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