Paul’s Wool Head Zonker
Hook: TMC 9395 or Diachi 1750 Straight Eye Streamer Hook Size #2
Under-tail: Pearlescent Krystal Flash or similar material
Body: Olive Chenille.
Rib: Heavy Copper Wire
Wing: Olive Rabbit Zonker Strip.
Head: Olive Wool Spun on hook and trimmed.
Many people stay away from tying flies with deer hair or wool heads. With the large heads these flies push a lot of water and can catch some really trophy sized fish. Smallies’ find it deadly on the Hous. It can be tied in any color and modified to catch a variety of fish. For salt water use, the wool head can be coated with silicone and used on the surface as a ‘slider’. Spinning Wool on a hook is actually easier than spinning deer hair. You don’t have to worry about stacking, problems with flaring, or difficulties in handling hair. It’s really quite easy.
Begin covering the last 2/3rds pf the hook shank with thread. Next tie in 6-8 strands of crystal flash at the bend of the hook (approx. ½ length of the hook shank). Tie in the copper wire rib, then the chenille. Wrap the chenille approximately 2/3rds up the shank of the hook. Tie off then tie in zonker strip. The rabbit strip should extend past the bend of the hook approx. ½ the length of the hook shank. Next rib the copper wire through the zonker strip and tie off. When doing this wet your fingers and moisten the rabbit to separate the hairs and palmer the rib. Tie off wire and ‘spin’ the wool around the last 1/3 rd of the hook. Tie off. Trim the wool to give the fly a sculpin like shaped head.