nymph
Hare's Ear Nymph
- Sizes
- #10–#18
- Imitates
- mayfly nymphs · caddis larvae · stonefly nymphs · scuds
- Origin
- Traditional English origin, 15th century+
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.
Recipe
This is one dressing. Tie it in other colors to match the hatch in front of you.
Workbench
Variants
Swipe to see In box and Add
| Size | Bead | Body | In box | Add to box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #10 | 2.5–3.5mm · tungsten · Gold bead | Natural | — | — |
| #12 | 2.5–3.5mm · tungsten · Gold bead | Natural | — | — |
| #14 | 2.5–3.5mm · tungsten · Gold bead | Natural | — | — |
| #16 | 2.5–3.5mm · tungsten · Gold bead | Natural | — | — |
| #18 | 2.5–3.5mm · tungsten · Gold bead | Natural | — | — |
At the vise
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.
Tying video
Fishing now on
Rivers whose hatch chart names this pattern this month. Names and sizes only.
Not named on this month's hatch charts.
On the water
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.
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.