Westcoast Flyfishers Association (WFA) - Sooke BC

The Hare's Ear Nymph

by Robin Pike

I generally use the Hare's Ear Nymph as an imitation of Mayfly nymphs but I have also used it successfully during Chironomid hatches fished dry and as a searching pattern. There are a variety of ways to fish this fly. I generally fish the pattern with an intermediate sink line or floating line in areas where target insects are hatching. This usually occurs in shallow water less than 15 feet deep. Most often I cast the fly to rising fish and use little to no movement. If the fish doesn't take I use a moderately fast hand twist retrieve. This is one pattern I think everyone should have in their flybox as it is extremely versatile and it seems to increase in effectiveness, the more beat up the fly becomes.

 

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

HOOK: Tiemco 200R, or Mustad 9672, sizes 8-14.
THREAD: Olive Brown or Black.
TAIL: Pheasant tail fibers.
BODY: Hare's ear dubbing (sand to olive).
RIB: Medium silver or gold tinsel.
WING: Ringneck pheasant tail fibers.
WEIGHT: Optional.
NOTE: The Hare's Ear traditionally uses hair from a hare's mask for the tail, body and thorax (darker), gold tinsel for the rib and mottled turkey quill for the wing case. I prefer my list of materials for trout fishing on Vancouver Island.

Tying Instructions for the Hare's Ear Nymph

Step 1: Debarb hook and place in vice. Add 10-12 turns of lead wire if desired. Select 5-10 pheasant fibers for a tail and tie in with tinsel at bend of hook as shown.

 

 

 

Step 2: Select a small quantity of dubbing and twist around tying thread. Ensure that the dubbing is sparse to begin and thickens as you move down the thread towards the bobbin. Remember it is better to be too sparing with the dubbing than too thick. Next build the body by winding the dubbing clockwise stopping approximately 2/3 of the way to the hook eye.

 

 

Step 3: Wind tinsel clockwise towards hook eye, secure with 2-3 turns of tying thread and cut excess material.

 

 

 

 

Step 4

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Twist more dubbing around the tying thread and wind the material clockwise towards the hook eye to create a thorax that is thicker than the body. Pull the wing material forward over the hook eye and secure with 2-3 turns of tying thread.

 

 

 

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Copyright 1999 - 2003.