Bunny jigs for Flaming Gorge lakers?

[TubeDude]

[cool]Here's a followup. I got a PM from Don, with some additional questions about colors, width to cut the fur, types of adhesives, etc. Thought I could copy and paste my reply here for anyone else who might have questions along that line...or who might have additional info to offer. [font "Arial"]Hey, Don[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]Good to hear from you. Hope you were able to extract some useful stuff from the BFT threads. [/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]You raise some good questions. As you correctly surmise, the final product is essentially a tube of bunny skin...sealed along the bottom edge...with a stinger hook wire running through it to the stinger hook (in the longer models). When you cut the strips, cut about twice as wide as you want the tube.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]And, as you have found out, the zonker strips are not wide enough for the classic bunny jigs. But, I am playing around with some designs that will incorporate two trailer strips of bunny fur...behind a palmer wrapped bunny fur body. I just haven't had time to crank out and scan pics of any models yet. I plan to make them in several sizes and colors for bass as well as macks. On some of them, I will also tie in flashabou or Krystal Flash strands for contrasting color and extra sparkle.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]I have fished macks/lakers all over the west. While there are differences, based on altitude, depth, temperatures, primary forage, etc., there are some constants in the color preferences of macks. I think their attraction to certain colors is often more a matter of what is most visible, rather than any particular light wavelength. That is sometimes why two-tone contrasting colors...or spots, lines or bars...can make lures more appealing on any given day.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]For bunny jigs, the all white has been the favorite single color on the Gorge. In fact, if you were limited to one color anywhere, white would be a good choice. It shows up at almost any depth and it can represent several different forage species. Similarly, chartreuse or even bright yellow are good options in many situations. Almost all trout are attracted to bright yellows and greens...and when you add a contrasting head or eye of hot red or hot orange, it can kick it up a notch.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]Black is a good color too. Use it by itself or in combination with chartreuse or red. I like to use black with a chartreuse eye jig head...and sometimes a black body with a chartreuse tail. Similarly, a black head with a red eye can be deadly...as can an all black jig with a few strands of red flashabou tied in. Works on big rainbows, cuts and browns too.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]Purple is an overlooked color for trout. But, if you can find some purple hair or feathers, and fish it on a purple head with a hot red eye, it will catch all species of BIG trout.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]The natural grey bunny fur is not as popular, but looks better to fish underwater than it does to fishermen in the air. If the fur is nice and long, it waves nicely and has a good effect underwater. I know of some big fish caught on the grey...of several species. I like it for topwater patterns for bass and big browns after dark. I trail a single zonker strip behind a bushy body and it looks like a mouthful of mouse.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]The adhesives can be a factor in the flexibility and longevity of the bunny jigs. You can put them together with anything from superglue to chewing gum. Epoxies work well, but tend to be stiff. Some glues are not waterproof and come apart after a bit of soaking. There are two things I have used that produce a good bond and a flexible, waterproof jig. [/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]One is Aquaseal, like I use for repairing waders. If you mix it with the Cotol accelerant, it sets up within about 2 hours. It is expensive and takes some working to get used to, but it is a super product.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]The other adhesive is Pliobond. I have used it for years in rod making and lure making. Again, it is not like a fast setting epoxy, but it holds well and does not stiffen up as much as some adhesives. [/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]No matter what glues you use, there will be a sacrifice of some of the natural suppleness of a well tanned and soft bunny skin. However, that is not all bad. These jigs are best when presented horizontally, without a lot of action, on days when the fish are being finicky. As long as the hair waves and flutters, the whole jig does not have to. And, if you have a piece of fish meat stuck on the hook, it will provide plenty of flutter. The bunny jig mainly offers a large profile and some sexy fluttering of the soft fur.[/font] [font "Arial"][/font] [font "Arial"]Hope that fills in some gaps for you. Let me know if there is anything else.[/font]
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