Materials for Tying Your Own Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
- Hook – Mustad 3906b (nymph) or equivalent size 18 – 10
- Thread – 8/0 – 6/0 (depending on hook size)
- Weighted – Optional lead wire or bead head
- Tail – hare’s mask, rooster tail fibers or squirrel tail
- Ribbing– small gold tinsel, copper wire
- Body – hare’s mask
- Thorax– hare’s mask
- Wing Case – turkey quill
Instructions for Tying The Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
- Wrap thread to the rear of the hook bend.
- Tie in a tail hare’s mask or red squirrel.
- Tie in the ribbing.
- Dub in a slightly tapered hare’s mask body; approximately 2/3 of hook (leave enough room for the thorax and wing case).
- Wrap ribbing over the body in the opposite direction of dubbing and secure.
- Keep the ribbing spacing equal.
- Tie in the wing case.
- Dub in a fat hare’s mask thorax.
- Pull wing case over thorax and secure.
- Build a neat head tapering from the thorax to the eye and tie off.
- Add a drop of thin head cement on the head (I usually add a drop on the wing case).
- If using a bead head, just tie it off behind the bead.
- For quick and simple legs, use your needle or dubbing brush and pull out some of the thorax dubbing on both sides.I also run the dubbing brush over the abdomen.
- Remember, the more you pick/brush, the buggier it gets; and fish love bugs.
Note: If you want to add weight when you are tying your own hare’s ear fly, use a bead head or wrap thin lead wire .015 or .025 on the hook. When tying smaller sizes you can substitute the gold tinsel with thin gold wire.
About the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear Fly
Hare’s Ear fly patterns are very versatile nymphs tied in a variety of colors, light or dark, using the hare’s mask or store-bought dubbing material. Depending on the size and color of the fly patterns you tie, the Hare’s Ear imitates many different types of nymphs in your local river or stream.
When to Use the Hare’s Ear Fly Pattern
On your local stream/river, nymph fishing is a great tactic in early, mid- and late season, whether you’re bouncing them off the bottom or floating them in the film. I don’t think you would be able to find a nymph fisherman on a stream without a variety of Hare’s Ear fly patterns in their nymph box.
Nymph Tactics for the Hare’s Ear Fly Pattern
There are many different nymphing tactics, and all produce fish. The hare’s ear fly pattern is best when bouncing close or right on the bottom. Mend your line for a drag-free drift, keep the rod tip up and raise your rod at every pause or jerk at your line or strike indicator. At the end of your drift let the nymph swing up off the bottom. You’ll be surprised at how many fish will hit on the upswing. Try tying your own fly and give them a Hare’s Ear a shot. I’m sure this nymph tied in a variety of ways will keep finding its way into your fly box.
Original Article By Brad Berlin
About The Author
Brad Berlin has been tying flies and fly fishing the streams of northeast and central Pennsylvania for over 30 years. He has guided on area streams and the Susquehanna River. Brad has taught classes in fly tying and casting and has served as president of the Columbia County Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
