How-to-steps (the Usual)

[Jeremy Hunt]

The Usual (Snowshoe Rabbit)

Recipe:

Hook: Tiemco 101, size 12-16

Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0, red

Tail: Snowshoe rabbit (natural)

Body: Snowshoe rabbit (natural)

Tying Instructions:

Step 1.

Start the thread at the front. Leave enough room because dubbing will be applied in front, but under the snowshoe rabbit that will be hanging off the front.

Step 2.

Cut some hair off the rabbit and measure to hang off the front about half the length of the hook shank. The rabbit is kind of like deer hair in the sense that you need to pull out the guard hair before tying it down. If you don’t you will have excess hair at the ends that won’t secure really well to the hook shank. When tying the hair in you’ll have some pointing towards the bend. What you’ll want to do is make a cut with your scissors at an angle. Then tie it all down with thread wraps. This will build a center body.

Step 3.

Your thread should be at the bend. Repeat the same step as step two. After your done the center should be even from making the cut at an angle. Advance the thread back to the bend and your ready to add dubbing.

Step 4.

With a fur rake you’ll comb some dubbing out from the rabbit foot. You don’t need to cut any hair. Just put the fur rake close to the hide and rake some out.

Showing you how the hair comes right out from using a fur rake.

Step 5.

Dub some around the thread and wind it up until you get to the front.

Step 6.

Now lift the front of the hair and make a few turns in front. The will force the tail to lift up.

Step 7.

Whip finish the fly and add some glue.

Very simple tie and it catches fish everywhere you go. This pattern is one that get’s lost, but one you should never forget to fish.