How to tie Marabou?

[sqerl]

Some of you may remember the thread I started here about fly fishing for pike:
http://njflyfishing.com/vbportal/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=577

You'll see pictures of the Red/Yellow Rabbit Fly, the Deer Hair Mouse and soon to come a Red/White Rabbit Fly...

well, the more I read, the more idea's I get....

Now I'm in the process of tying a big black leech. But I'm experiencing problems with getting the right body...
For the tail, I'm using black rabbit (zonker) strips.

Currently, I'm working on two different styles for the body:
1)a wrapped rabbit strip the length of the shaft.
Perhaps 'crosscut' strips would yield a fuller body and will allow the fly to survive multiple strikes. (I'm very hopefull for many pike this year )

2) Marabou wrapped the length of the shaft
The marabou produces a GREAT looking fly. Very bushy when dry and can only imagine the action when wet. However, I'm concerned that the marabou will practically disintegrate after the first hit on it. Secondly, I'm tying the marabou on like I would dry hackle - except its for the length of the shaft.

I followed one link from this site that shows how to tie dry hackle backward from the eye then wrap the thread through the hackle back to the eye when done. This is supposed to help, but I don't know.... Is there a good way to tie the marabou on so as to increase it's lifespan? Suggestions on a good method for tying marabou is greatly appeaciated.

 

[beeber]

sqerl,

You can wrap wire (I use copper) over the marabou to help it hold up better.

I've also found it easier to work with marabou when it's wet.

Tight Lines,

Beeber

 

[sqerl]

found a reference to another website that had this to say:
http://www.maineflyfishing.com/forum/_disc2/00000026.htm

Mike, I don’t have any new patterns to share, however, I sat down last night and started tying some Pike flies, mostly Bunny Bugs. I picked those because guys like Barry Reynolds and John Berryman (authors of Pike on the Fly) credit then as being “as important to pike fishing as the Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear and the Adams are to trout fishing.” Now that’s high praise! I tie mine pretty much like they do in the book. 4” Zonker strip tail with a little Krystal Flash over it, followed by a wrap or two of Marabou where the body starts and then a body of palmered Zonker strip. The one added step is to apply head cement to the shank of the hook before wrapping the body Zonker Strip.I don’t know if this really adds much durability to the fly but it is a step that has been recommended to me by several veteran tiers so I do it. I guess I’ll have to tie some up without the cement and see if they hold up or not. Fortunately, the Bunny Bug makes for a good Striper fly also because I have to admit I haven’t caught any Pike on them.

It appears that the marabou should not be used as the body but more to accent the body. Looks like I'm off to get some crosscut rabbit strips for the body. I've been using some adhesive to hold down the rabbit fur strips cause I thought that would help... Glad to see my thoughts mimic others that have been there and done that.

edit: thanks beeber.. almost thought that no one would reply! Using the wire will help it sink as well... I tie 2 of every pattern. One that is light for staying near the top and one heavy for going low... that should work nicely.. thanks for the tip!