Hook:

Thread:

Under Body:

Body:

Back:

Head:

The materials needed to tie a Zonker are a little unusual compared to many more conventional flies and streamers. Here are most of the baggies needed to put together a pile o' Zonkers of the "Oil Slick" variety.

I like to build in batches.  Here I have cut a dozen or so 1" lengths of the lead foil tape and folded them over the hook shank with the tape portion "Up" or facing away from the bend and point.  The next step is to use a pair of older scisors and trim the tape to a "Minnow Body" shape.  The deepest portion of the body should be app. 5/16" wide to allow for the mylar tubing to slip over the belly portion of the body.  Be sure to leave app. 1/8 - 3/16 behind the eye to lash down material and form the head.

Next we cut a length of mylar tubing into lengths app. 1/2" longer than our lead tape body. It takes a little practice to pinch the ends of the tubing and slide over the lead without letting it unravel - sometimes a little super glue on the trimmed edge will temporarily hold things together until you lash down the ends.

Select one of the Zonker Strips and trim a piece about twice as long as the total length of the hook (eye to bend).  You should be almost 3" long on a size 4 hook.  Trim the front of the strip on an angle and pierce the strip with the hook point so the tapered front of the rabbit strip falls just behind the eye.

Release the hook and turn the fly over in the vice so jaws grip the bend above the rabbit strip.  Pull the strip tight and tie down the front to start the head.

Now we are almost finished with the tying portion. Add in a clump of Bright Orange rabbit for a throat or beard and 4-6 strands of Black Crystal Flash for a topping.  Continue wrapping down these last two materials until you have built up a fairly large, flat head.

All that's left is to finish the head.  I like to apply one thin coat of 5 minute epoxy to the sides of the head, paint on the eyes using a toothpick to spot the iris and pupil and then apply a finish coat of epoxy after the eye balls dry. If you enjoy tying and fishing Zonkers, you may want to invest in a Rotary Fly Drier, an electric slowly rotating disc that gently turns a dozen or so flies at a time until the epoxy dries.  This keeps the wet epoxy even - preventing sags or thin spots.The End.