Nymphs
Nymphs

Hare's Ear Nymph

Buggy, messy, and irresistible to every trout in the river.

The Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear is the buggiest, most imitative general nymph ever devised. The rough, spiky dubbing of hare's ear fur creates a silhouette that passes for mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae, and stonefly nymphs alike. Its versatility makes it a permanent fixture in every fly box.

History & Lore

The Hare's Ear dates back to at least the 15th century in England, where it was fished as a wet fly. The modern gold-ribbed nymph version was popularized in the mid-20th century and became a staple of American fly fishing. Its effectiveness relies on the translucent, spiky guard hairs that trap air and move naturally in current.

Variations

Beadhead Hare's Ear

Gold or tungsten bead adds weight and attraction.

Soft Hackle Hare's Ear

Partridge collar for emerger presentations.

Jig Hare's Ear

Slotted tungsten on a jig hook for Euro nymphing.

How to Fish It

Dead drift the Hare's Ear through riffles and runs at the natural drift speed. It excels as a searching nymph when you don't know what's hatching. On tailwaters, the beadhead version fished Euro-style is a year-round producer.

When to Use

A 365-day pattern. Particularly effective during caddis and mayfly emergence, or anytime trout are feeding subsurface and you need a generalist.

Materials

Hook
TMC 3761, #10-18
Thread
Uni 8/0, tan or brown
Tail
Hare's ear guard hairs
Rib
Fine gold wire
Body
Hare's ear dubbing (natural)
Wing case
Mottled turkey tail
Thorax
Hare's ear dubbing, picked out

Tying Video

Tying Steps

1

Start thread and wrap to the bend. Tie in gold wire for the rib.

💡 Use fine gold wire on small sizes, medium on #10-12.

2

Tie in a small bunch of hare's ear guard hairs for the tail.

💡 Keep the tail sparse — just a few fibers.

3

Dub a tapered body of hare's ear fur from bend to 60% of shank. Counter-wrap gold wire in 4-5 even turns.

💡 Mix underfur and guard hairs for the buggiest texture.

4

Tie in a section of mottled turkey tail for the wing case.

💡 Coat the turkey with head cement before tying in to prevent splitting.

5

Dub a fuller thorax of hare's ear, slightly larger than the abdomen.

💡 Use more guard hairs in the thorax dubbing for extra movement.

6

Pull the turkey wing case over the thorax and secure. Pick out the dubbing with a bodkin or velcro.

💡 Aggressive picking creates legs — the buggier the better.

7

Whip finish and cement. Give the thorax one more pick-out.

💡 The finished fly should look slightly disheveled — that's the point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Hare's Ear Nymph should I use?

The Hare's Ear Nymph is most commonly tied in sizes 10–18. A 365-day pattern. Particularly effective during caddis and mayfly emergence, or anytime trout are feeding subsurface and you need a generalist.

What does a Hare's Ear Nymph imitate?

The Hare's Ear Nymph primarily imitates mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae, stonefly nymphs, scuds. Dead drift the Hare's Ear through riffles and runs at the natural drift speed. It excels as a searching nymph when you don't know what's hatching. On

What materials do I need to tie a Hare's Ear Nymph?

Key materials include: Hook, Thread, Tail, Rib, Body, Wing case, Thorax. Dub a rough hare's ear body with gold wire ribbing, form a thorax of picked-out dubbing, and pull a

How do you fish a Hare's Ear Nymph?

Dead drift the Hare's Ear through riffles and runs at the natural drift speed. It excels as a searching nymph when you don't know what's hatching. On tailwaters, the beadhead version fished Euro-style is a year-round producer.

Pattern Details

Category
Nymphs
Sizes
10–18
Colors
Natural, Brown, Tan, Olive
Weight
Gold bead, Tungsten, None
Hook Styles
Standard nymph, Jig hook, 2x long
Imitates
mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae, stonefly nymphs, scuds
Water Types
freestone, tailwater, spring creek
Origin
Traditional English origin, 15th century+

Target Species

rainbow troutbrown troutbrook troutcutthroat trout