Bunny bugs for picky pike

Although so far we didn't feature many patterns with them at this blog, it's no secret zonker strips are one of our favourite tying materials for pike streamers. They're very durable, cheap, incredibly non-air-resistant and - last but not at all least - they have an almost unparalleled action while waterborne. What I especially like about zonkers is that it takes only the smallest twitch to give the streamer a very attractive, totally 'alive' impression.

We all know how often a pike will just follow the moving streamer but not charge it; both an exciting and frustrating experience. The first reaction to that is usually stripping even harder. While this sometimes may be succesful, it's my experience that more often than not this only means doing the same thing just a tad faster. Also, the faster you strip, the earlier you'll have the pike at your feet and spook it.

Therefore, when a pike is only following, I prefer just letting the streamer stay put for a while in front of the pike, with an occasional small twitch that will show the pike this thing is both alive and not planning to move out of the pike's territory. This proven tactic will often annoy the hell out of the pike and provoke the longed-for strike after all. A positive side-effect is that this is a good training in self-control and a one of the most exciting ways to catch a pike.

Like I said, for this purpose, zonker strips are the bomb. And while we were at Kaj's place to stock up on zonker strips, we noticed he had some great coloured rabbit skins too. So we went for those instead, and after some practicing and cut-off hairs, Harmen-Jan and Erik got things down and produced a long-lasting stock of strips in a range of different colours. It's cheaper, you can cut your own preferred sizes and, above all, it's fun!