How to tie: a Bunny Tarpon Toad

Dec 20

Today, Backwater Fly Fishing is tying the Bunny Tarpon Toad—a great all-around fly for tarpon fishing, especially in Florida Bay, Key Largo, and Key West. It suspends well and stays in the targeted zone, making it perfect for the fast-moving waters. Let’s dive into the materials and steps to get this fly tied!

Materials:

Hook: Size 1/0 (or 1/0-2/0)
Thread: 6/0 or 10/0 (Mason Art Model or similar)
Body: Rabbit Strip (for tail and collar)
Flash: Krystal Flash (2-4 strands)
Mono Eyes: 16-pound Mason Mono
Dubbing: Ston Faux (or your preferred dubbing)
EP Fibers: For collar and body
UV Resin (Optional for final touch)

Steps:

Start the Thread:
- Begin by attaching your thread behind the hook eye and wrap it back to the bend of the hook.
Tie in the Mason Mono:
- Crimp the Mason Mono flat with pliers and tie it in with the tag facing upwards.
Add the Rabbit Strip:
- Secure the rabbit strip on top of the Mason Mono, trimming any excess and poking a small hole for the Mono to pass through.
Add Flash:
- Attach a few strands of Krystal Flash (two doubled over) just in front of the bump and tie it back towards the tail.
Create the Dubbing Loop:
- Form a dubbing loop using thread and attach the rabbit fur. Spin the loop using a dubbing spinner, then brush out the fibers for a dense collar.
Palmer the Dubbing:
- Palmer the dubbing back towards the hook eye, brushing fibers back as you go. Secure it with tight wraps once you reach the front.
Add Mono Eyes:
- Attach the Mono Eyes with tight wraps just behind the hook eye.
Add EP Fibers:
- Cross-wrap EP fibers to form the body and collar, positioning each segment with loose wraps first, followed by tight wraps to secure.
Finish with Whip Finish:
- Whip finish in front of the eyes and trim any excess thread.
Trim the Collar:
- Wet your fingers, separate the rabbit fibers from the EP fibers, and trim the collar to form a clean, symmetrical head.