Bodkin / Patterns

RIO's King Kinky Bunker

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · Jack · Tarpon · False Albacore · Cobia · Tuna · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Saltwater short-shank (Ahrex SA270 / Owner Aki), 3/0-5/0
  • Thread Clear mono Medium mono

Materials

  • Bucktail White bucktail (1 clump (tail base))
  • Strung saddle hackle White plus olive/gray back (3-4 pairs)
  • Flash Pearl/silver flashabou (several strands)
  • SF Blend (Steve Farrar) Olive & UV white sf blend (generous pinches (head))
  • 3D holographic eyes Pearl flashabou (1 pair)
  • UV resin Clear uv resin (head coat)

How to tie it

  1. Start mono thread near the bend and tie in a clump of white bucktail, about 1.5 shanks long, as a base for the tail.
  2. Tent three to four pairs of long saddle hackles over the bucktail (white on the sides, olive or gray on top) tips forming an inverted V, so the fly reads as a deep-bodied menhaden.
  3. Add several strands of pearl or silver flash down each side.
  4. Build the head with SF Blend, white crossways underneath and olive on top, packing it fuller than a standard Kinky Muddler to fatten the bunker profile.
  5. Stack SF Blend forward to the eye, then comb the whole fly back into a broad, deep taper.
  6. Wrap a mono head, whip finish, coat with UV resin, and glue a large 3D eye to each side.

Tying videos

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