Hare's Ear Nymph

How it's tied

The Hare's Ear Nymph is tied on a standard nymph hook, usually ranging from size 10 to 18. The tail is created using fibers from a soft hackle feather or guard hairs from a hare's mask. The body is made from hare's ear fur, either dubbed directly onto the tying thread or using a pre-made hare's ear dubbing blend.

GRHE: Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear

GRHE stands for Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, and it is a variation on the Hare's Ear that you see in the picture above. It's sometimes also referred to as Flashback Hare's Ear. Its has a more flashy appearance as it has a flashy piece of string like tinsel wrapped around its body, and optionally a bead added so it sinks (the classic Hare's Ear in the picture above also has a bead). See the Photos below for the variations of the Hare's Ear.

The addition of the flashback is thought to mimic the gas bubble that forms on the backs of many insect nymphs just before they emerge and hatch into their adult form. This stage of the insect's life cycle is particularly vulnerable and is a favorite target of hungry fish.

The Flashback Hare's Ear is tied in a similar manner to the standard Hare's Ear Nymph, with the same basic materials used for the tail, body, and thorax. The key difference is the addition of the flashback material, which is typically tied in after the body is formed and before the thorax is created. This placement allows the material to sit neatly on the back of the fly, giving the illusion of the gas bubble.

What it mimics

The Hare's Ear Nymph is a versatile pattern designed to imitate various aquatic insects in their nymph or larval stage, such as mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. Its buggy appearance and general shape make it a highly effective searching pattern when the specific insects present are unknown or when fish are not keying on a particular insect. The Hare's Ear Nymph can be tied in various sizes and colors to match the specific nymphs found in different fishing environments.

Where it's used

The Hare's Ear Nymph is effective in a wide variety of waters, essentially everywhere except for saltwater. Its adaptability allows it to be used for targeting multiple fish species, such as trout, grayling, and panfish. The fly can be fished using various techniques, including dead drifting under an indicator, tight line nymphing (Euronymphing), or swung through riffles and pocket water.