Barred Zonker Streamer

A Streamer Built to Get Down Fast and Look Alive Doing It.

Dan Byford tied the original Zonker in Colorado in the mid-1970s, and the basic idea hasn’t changed since: a strip of rabbit fur that moves like nothing else when it hits the water. This version updates it with a brass cone head for faster sink and silicone legs for extra motion, but the core of the fly is still the same rabbit strip that made the original work.

Why It Sinks and Moves the Way It Does

The brass cone pulls the fly down without needing split shot, which matters when you’re trying to get a streamer into a deep run or a pike’s lie quickly. The rabbit strip does the rest of the work. Real rabbit fur compresses when you strip the fly and expands again on the pause, which gives it a breathing motion that’s hard to fake with synthetic materials. The barring isn’t dyed on, it’s the natural pattern in the hide, so it holds up over time.

The silicone legs add to that movement, pulsing on the pause the same way the rabbit strip does. Silicone also holds up better than marabou against sharp teeth, which matters if pike or musky are part of your target list.

How to Fish It

This is a strip-and-pause streamer. Cast across or downstream and let the cone head pull it down for a few seconds before you start retrieving. Use a sharp, short strip to make the fly dart, then pause for a couple seconds. That pause is when most strikes happen, the rabbit strip and legs are still moving even though you’ve stopped. If fish are following but not committing, try shorter strips, longer pauses, or a longer dead-drift pause to see what triggers a take.

Color choice: Chartreuse/black shows up best in stained water and low light. White/black reads as shad or shiners and works well in clear water. Golden yellow/black is a good call in tea-stained water or during golden hour light.

Common Questions

What rod weight should I use? 6wt minimum, since the cone head and rabbit strip add bulk that’s harder to cast on lighter rods. For pike or musky, step up to an 8 or 9wt to turn over the leader cleanly.

Will the rabbit strip foul on the hook? Rarely. The cone head keeps the fly riding point-down, which naturally keeps the strip clear of the hook. If it does tangle after a bad cast, one strip usually clears it.

Can I use this in saltwater? Yes. Rinse it well after use and let it dry fully, since the hook isn’t stainless.

How is this different from a Woolly Bugger? The cone head makes this sink faster and gives it more of a baitfish profile. A Woolly Bugger sinks slower and reads more like a leech. Use whichever matches what you’re trying to imitate that day.

Specs