Ontario fly tier, Joe Penich, first gave me the idea of combining a rabbit strip with a Spey-type hackle. When fishing a fly using the wet-fly swing, it is important the pattern has an enticing movement. Both rabbit strip and marabou provide lifelike action in the water.

I first used the combination of white with a purple body to mimic the smelt that steelhead continue to feed on even after they have entered some of the larger New York rivers. The purple body shimmering through the strands of Spey hackle represents the smelt's iridescent lateral line. I have since found this pattern to work in just about every Great Lakes river whether or not significant bait is present.

Often anglers accustomed to using small flies for steelhead are surprised that they will take such a large fly in the rivers and streams. But these fish are predators. They have spent the past summer feeding heavily--mostly on bait. Even though they may stop actively feeding once in the river, their instinctive response to fleeing bait never seems to go away. I normally reduce the size of the fly in low, clear water conditions.

I like the White Bunny Spey in moderately stained to clear water conditions. In heavily stained water, I prefer a Purple Bunny Spey. The Purple Bunny Spey can be tied by using purple rabbit, schlappen, and guinea.

--Jerry Kustich

Step 1. Start the thread at the rear of the hook and wrap it forward to the hook point. Cut a piece of rabbit strip slightly less than two times the length of the hook shank, spread the fibers, and tie it in. The portion extending past the tie-down point should be approximately 3/4 of the hook shank length. The tail provides enticing movement. Too long a tail can result in short strikes.

Step 2. Using a dubbing loop, dub and wrap a thick body. The body should extend just past the beginning of the return eye. Pick the body out for a full look. Cut the rabbit strip in the front to the proper length. Form a point at the tip of the strip to reduce the bulk at the front of the fly.

Step 3. Firmly tie down the rabbit strip.

Step 4. After stripping away all the fuzzy fibers at the end, tie the schlappen in tip first. I usually tie it in about 1/3 from the tip so that I can use the longest fibers. I look for schlappen that has long soft fibers and a thin stem. I prefer hackle that is not too webby.

Step 5. Wrap the hackle forward, one wrap right next to the last, while folding back the fibers with your other hand. Folding the hackle will allow the fibers to lay back and flow in the water. Make about four to five wraps and tie off.

Step 6. Select a natural guinea hackle with long fibers. Strip one side of the hackle. To choose the right side to strip, grab the hackle tip with the thumb and forefinger of one hand with the darker side of the hackle facing you. With your other hand, strip all the fibers below the tip. Tie in the guinea at the tip. The fibers should point to the rear of the fly. Make about three wraps forward and tie off the guinea. Finish with a small head and several coats of lacquer.

Step 6. Finished fly.