If you've ever watched a double bunny fly swim through a deep run, you know exactly why predatory fish can't resist it. It's heavy, it moves like it's actually alive, and quite frankly, it's one of the meanest-looking streamers you can ever clip onto your leader. It isn't a fly for the faint of heart or for someone looking to spend a delicate afternoon casting dry flies to rising trout. This is a "go big or go home" kind of pattern that's designed to trigger a primal reaction from the largest fish in the river.
I remember the first time I tied one on. I was skeptical because, honestly, it looked like a wet sock once it got soaked. But as soon as it hit the water and I gave it that first sharp strip, the way those rabbit strips pulsed and breathed was a game-changer. It doesn't just look like a baitfish; it moves with a weight and displacement that fish can feel through their lateral lines.
What Makes the Double Bunny Different?
Most streamers rely on a single strip of rabbit fur or maybe some bucktail to give them profile. The double bunny fly, famously popularized by Scott Sanchez, takes things a step further. It uses two separate strips of rabbit zonker glued flesh-to-flesh. This creates a thick, meaty body that holds its shape in the water while providing an insane amount of movement from the fur.
Because the two strips are glued together, you get a two-toned effect that perfectly mimics the dark back and light belly of a real baitfish. It's a profile that simply can't be matched by traditional tying methods. When you strip it, the hide stays stiff enough to provide a solid silhouette, but the long fur fibers kick and flutter with every twitch of the rod tip.
The Physics of the Pattern
One thing you'll notice quickly is that the double bunny fly is heavy. Even without added lead or brass beads, the sheer amount of rabbit hide on this fly absorbs water like a sponge. When you cast it, you're basically throwing a small, waterlogged mammal.
This weight is actually an advantage. It helps the fly sink fast and stay deep in the "strike zone" where those big browns and bull trout like to hide. It pushes a lot of water as it moves, creating a wake that predatory fish can track even in murky conditions. If you're fishing a river with a bit of color in it after a rain, this is often the first fly I'll reach for.
Tying Tips and "Arts and Crafts"
Tying a double bunny fly is a bit different from your standard nymph or dry fly. It's more like a middle-school art project involving leather and glue. Most tiers use a specialized adhesive like Tear Mender or a similar fabric/leather glue. You don't want to use superglue here because it dries too brittle and can actually snap the hide or make the fly feel like a piece of plastic.
The trick is to apply the glue to the skin side of both strips and sandwich the hook right in the middle. You have to be careful not to get glue all over the fur, or you'll end up with a matted mess that won't move in the water. I usually use a toothpick to spread the glue evenly. It's messy, and your fingers will probably stick together, but the result is a fly that is incredibly durable. These things can take a beating from toothy fish and still look great after a dozen catches.
Choosing Your Colors
While you can go wild with colors, I find that sticking to natural combinations works best for the double bunny fly. * Olive and White: This is the classic "sculpin" or "minnow" look. It's a killer in almost any clear-water scenario. * Black and Purple: If you're fishing low-light conditions or very deep water, this high-contrast combo is hard to beat. * Tan and Ginger: Perfect for mimicking crawfish or smaller trout in clear mountain streams.
How to Fish It Effectively
You can't fish a double bunny fly with a flimsy 4-weight rod. You're going to need some backbone—think 6-weight at the minimum, though a 7 or 8-weight is much more comfortable for hucking these heavy streamers all day.
The most effective way to fish it is with an aggressive, erratic retrieve. I like to cast it toward the opposite bank, let it sink for a second or two, and then give it a series of short, sharp strips. You want to make it look like a wounded baitfish trying to escape. Don't be afraid to pause for a second, either. Because the rabbit fur is so soft, it continues to move and pulse even when the fly is sitting still in the current.
Dealing with the "Tail Fouling" Issue
One common complaint about the double bunny fly is that the long tails can sometimes wrap around the bend of the hook. There's nothing more frustrating than making a perfect cast into a prime hole only to realize your fly has been spinning like a propeller because the tail fouled.
To fix this, some guys will run a bit of monofilament through the tail to stiffen it up, but I think that kills some of the action. A better way is to keep your strips a reasonable length—about one and a half times the hook shank. If you keep them too long, you're just asking for trouble. Also, making sure your glue bond is solid right up to the bend of the hook helps keep everything aligned.
Why Predatory Fish Love It
It really comes down to the "big meal" theory. A large trout or a bass doesn't want to spend its energy chasing down tiny midges if it can just eat one big double bunny fly and be done for the day. This fly represents a high-calorie reward.
I've seen fish come from five feet away to smash one of these. They don't just nip at the tail; they usually try to kill it. The takes are often violent, which is half the fun of streamer fishing anyway. You'll be stripping along, and suddenly it feels like your line has been snagged by a moving truck.
Not Just for Trout
While most people talk about this fly in the context of big brown trout, it's actually an incredible pattern for smallmouth bass and even northern pike. I've had days on a local lake where the bass wouldn't touch a topwater or a plastic worm, but they absolutely annihilated a white-and-gray double bunny fly worked slowly along the weed edges.
If you're targeting pike, you'll definitely want to use a wire tippet. Those teeth will shear through the rabbit hide and your leader in a heartbeat. But the profile of the fly is perfect for those toothy predators because it mimics the slender shape of the baitfish they crave.
Final Thoughts on the Pattern
If you haven't added the double bunny fly to your box yet, you're missing out on some of the most exciting strikes in fly fishing. It's not a "numbers" fly—you might go a few hours without a hit—but when the rod finally bows, it's usually because of a fish you'll be talking about for the rest of the season.
It's a bit of a pain to tie, it's a workout to cast, and it's definitely not "elegant" in the traditional sense of fly fishing. But when you see that massive shadow dart out from under a log to inhale your fly, none of that matters. It's just you, the fish, and a big, wet piece of rabbit fur that somehow managed to fool the smartest fish in the river. Grab some zonker strips, get some glue on your fingers, and give it a shot. You won't regret it.