G.R. Hare's Ear Nymph
G.R. Hare's Ear Nymph
The “Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear Nymph” is one of the all time great patterns and is believed to have been created in the 1880's; it is an "impressionistic" fly which imitates a variety of nymphs and pupa, including those of mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, and crane flies. In learning how to tie this fly, traditional thread dubbing and dubbing loop techniques will be discussed and learned. Most fly fisherman think of this as a stream/river fishing fly, but it is one of my favorite stillwater patterns for trout. With any wind on a lake, it can be a deadly pattern when fished under an indicator; It is also effective when cast/ retrieved with floating or sinking line, using a 2 inch or finger twist retrieve. On streams/rivers it can be deaddrifted; fished tight line, with indicator, or "hopper and dropper" style.
Hook |
#12-18 Tiemco 9300 or 3761 (#14 most commonly
used) |
Thread |
Black, Rust, Brown, or Camel 6/0 or 8/0 |
Weight |
5 wraps of .15 or .20 lead (to build up thorax) |
| Legs |
(Optional, not shown in picture) Ringneck Pheasant Tail
Fibers |
Tail |
Guard Hairs from Forehead of Hare’s Mask |
Rib |
Gold Rod Wrapping Thread or Small Gold Oval Tinsel or
Wire |
Body |
“Hare Line" #4 Fur Dubbing, Dubbed on Thread |
Wingcase |
Turkey Tail |
Thorax |
“Hare Line" #4 Fur Dubbing, Dubbed on Thread
or Dubbing Looped |
Head |
Thread |
Tying Directions for Hare's Ear Nymph with Legs:
1) Wrap in 5 turns of lead (position lead 3/32 behind eye to allow for head),
and tie down. Move thread to the hook eye for the leg tie in point.
2) Tie in 6 strands of the pheasant tail with the tips extending approx 3/8”
forward over the eye. Wrap thread back to bend of hook.
3) Tie in rib and tail (1/8” long) and dub small diameter body forward
to the base of the lead.
4) Begin wrapping rib by going under the tail with the wire to cock the tail
up, then spiral forward to the lead and tie off.
5 ) Cut a 1/4” wide piece of turkey feather and tie it in (shiny side
of turkey facing up) over the top of the lead extending back over the body.
Trim off the excess turkey that is forward of the lead..
6 ) Dub in thorax over lead and turkey feather using traditional thread dubbing
method (for a "buggier" thorax, you may use the dubbing loop method).
Fold turkey feather forward over thorax and tie in by wrapping thread forward
to just behind the eye. This forms the wing case. Now fold the turkey feather
back to the rear, add 3 or 4 wraps to secure then fold 3 of the pheasant tail
strands back along one side to form legs and wrap to secure. Repeat for the
other side.
7 ) Wrap securely just in front of the thorax to form head and tie off and cement.
Clip off excess turkey feather.