The Steelhead Matuka (rabbit strip)

If you don't have steelhead matukas in your fly box I strongly recommend it!  No doubt steelhead love leech style patterns and matukas fit the bill just fine.  Warning:  Body jarring fish strikes ahead!

Materials:
Hook:  Daiichi (Alec Jackson)
Thread:  6/0 Euro
Rib:  Lagartun small oval 
Body:  Dubbing and color of choice.  Popular dubbings are SLF, Senyo's Laser Dubbing, angora goat. Pictured is a custom blend.                                                   
Wing:  Rabbit strip color of choice.
Collar:  Rabbit spun in a dubbing loop.  Various other hackle may be used.


Step 1:
Start thread behind the eye to secure the returning loop wire.  Tie in small oval tinsel and secure to the back side of the hook shank.  Stopping point should be directly above the hook point.

Step 2:
Dub a nice tapered body.  

Step 3:
Prepare a rabbit strip.  Not all rabbit strips are the same.  I look for the thickest and longest hair on the strip.  Save the shorter and thinner sections for smaller flies.


Cut the end of the strip in to a point.

Step 4:
Tie and secure the point section of the rabbit strip.

Step 5:
One trick that helps during the securing phase (step 6) is wetting the hair into a "mohawk."

Step 6:
Firmly secure the strip directly down the centerline of the body with oval tinsel.  A minimum of four wraps is sufficient.  Once strip is secured you may need to use a bodkin or needle to pull small amounts of trapped hair from underneath the tinsel wraps.  Cut the rear of the strip even with the bend of the hook.  Notes:  (1) Do not make the tail too long.  A longer tail can lead to a lot of short strikes.  (2) You can substitute the Lagartun tinsel with medium size UTC wire.  

Step 7:
Form a dubbing loop and heavily wax the thread.  Place rabbit from a strip in the loop.  The length is a personal choice, but I prefer longer than shorter.  Just past the hook point is a great choice!  Note:  Before placing rabbit hair in the loop I thin out some of the under fur.  This will remove a lot of the bulk in the head section and help to keep the hair from binding or matting.

Step 8:
Once the rabbit hair has been spun, moisten the hair while stroking to the rear.  Wind the hair forward and secure.

Step 9:
Whip finish and apply head cement.  The true beauty of applying a collar in a dubbing loop is the lack of bulk and a very small neat head.