Hare’s Ear Nymph: How to tie this amazing fly pattern

Examine a serious angler’s fly box(s), and you will undoubtedly find a Hare’s Ear nymph in one form or another.

Simply, it’s an indispensable nymph for rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and…

I wouldn’t go fishing without a few in my fly box.

The Hare’s Ear nymph has been catching trout and grayling for over 100 years, in one form or another. Consequently, a multitude of nymph patterns exist. However, this post covers how to tie the default pattern for fishing on rivers and stillwaters.

Gold ribbed Hare’s Ear nymph tying instructions:

Material list:

• Hook: #16 to 12 Kamasan
• Weight: up to 6 turns of lead wire
• Thread: Rusty brown 8/0 Uni-Thread
• Tail: Ginger cock fibres
• Body & Thorax: Light Hares Mask – WAPSI
• Rib: Gold tinsel
• Thorax cover: 6 pheasant tail fibres

Step-by-step fly-tying instructions:

Don’t overdress the nymph because one with a slim body profile will be more effective at catching trout and grayling. Also, if you’re new to fly tying, it’s an easy nymph to tie because the materials needed are cheap and easy to obtain.

Step 1. Add up to 6 turns of lead wire to the hook, depending on the weight needed. Fix the wire to the hook with a drop of superglue.

Step 2. Starting behind the eye run the thread towards the hook bend and catch in the cock fibre tail.

Step 3. For the rib, break off a short length of gold tinsel and tie it in. Then return the thread to the bend.

Step 4. Lightly dub the thread with the WAPSI dubbing.

Step 5. Wind the dubbed thread up to the lead wire.

Step 6. Wind the gold tinsel in open turns to the thorax area and secure with the tying thread.

Step 7. Take 6 pheasant tail fibres and tie them in with their points protruding over the hook eye. Wind the thread to the back of the thorax area.

Step 8. Lightly dub the thread again and from the thorax.

Step 9. Pull the tips of the pheasant tail fibres back to represent the legs. Trap in position by forming the wing case with the butt ends of the pheasant. Whip finish and varnish the head.

Step 10. Side view of the finished GRHE nymph.

Simple modifications to the above pattern will give you a series of nymphs to try when the fish become fussy. Try varying the body colour, rib material/colour, and adding a tungsten bead head.

If you are new to fly tying, the following video by Davie McPhail demonstrates how to tie a Hare’s Ear nymph and is well worth watching.

How to fish a Hare’s Ear nymph:

I normally fish the nymph in streamy runs, riffles, and pool heads on the Welsh Dee, because water turbulence brings the nymph to life…

making it irresistible when flies are hatching.

The gold-ribbed Hare’s Ear is not an imitation of a particular insect but a generic representation of mayflies and caddis nymphs. Its rough appearance resembles nymphs shedding their shuck as they hatch. Overall…

It’s a killer imitation.

It’s on par with a pheasant tail nymph.

Whenever olives are hatching, I will try one of the nymphs first. Especially when any of the following are starting to hatch:

The GRHE has proven its effectiveness on stillwaters. Brown and rainbow trout find it attractive when fished very slowly on a floating or sinking fly line.

I’ve also caught sea trout fishing a GRHE ear nymph on light tackle…

Finally, I hope this article stimulates you to tie the Hare’s Ear nymph and try them on your local rivers or stillwaters.