nymph
Hare's Ear Nymph
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.
Originated by Traditional English origin, 15th century+
Recipe
- HookNymph hook (TMC 3761) · Tiemco
- BeadTungsten bead 3.3mm Gold
- ThreadBrown tying thread 8/0 or 70 denier · Semperfli
- TailHare's mask guard hairs
- BodyHare's ear dubbing · Hareline
- RibGold wire small
- WingcaseMottled turkey tail
- BodyHare's ear dubbing, picked out (thorax) · Hareline
History
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.
Tying overview
Dub a rough hare's ear body with gold wire ribbing, form a thorax of picked-out dubbing, and pull a wing case of turkey tail over the top.
Fishing tips
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.