The Tangled Tackle

The Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

The Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph, often just known as the Hare's Ear Nymph, holds a prominent place in the world of fly fishing. This venerable artificial fly has been winning over seasoned anglers and enthusiastic beginners for generations, and for good reason. It's adept at mimicking a wide variety of aquatic insect life, ranging from scuds and sow bugs to caddis larvae and, notably, mayfly nymphs.

The body of the Hare's Ear Nymph is adorned with the soft hair and stiff bristles from a hare, bound together with a luminescent gold wire. This fly effectively replicates the features and behaviors of many aquatic life forms, making it a must-have in any angler's fly box.

While its color typically spans various shades of brown, it's not unusual for fly tiers to experiment with other hues to match their specific fishing environments and targets.

The Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

How to Fish the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

You know, there's something about the Hare's Ear Nymph that reminds me of those old, reliable tools you find in your grandfather's shed. It's not flashy, but it gets the job done. You can fish it with or without a strike indicator, and it's as versatile as an old pocket knife. Dead drifting it along a riverbed, or pairing it with another fly in a tandem rig, it's all about reading the water and the mood of the fish. Some days, it feels like the trout are just waiting for that Hare's Ear to drift by.

The History of the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

The Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph has a backstory as rich as any old fishing tale. It hails from the early 20th century, during what you might call the English fly-fishing renaissance. Back then, anglers were all about specific imitations. But the Hare's Ear? It was like that new guy in town with a mysterious past; everyone wanted to know more. From the serene English rivers to the roaring streams of the American West, this nymph became a staple, like that favorite old hat you always reach for.

I remember this one time, fishing with a buddy who was a die-hard spin fisherman. I handed him my fly rod rigged with what I considered a slight innovation: a Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear but with a brown marabou tail. It wasn't revolutionary, but on that day, it was magic. He landed 14 rainbows, one after the other. Handing back my rod, he remarked, "I think I'll stick with my spinners." That's the thing about fly fishing; it's as unpredictable as a summer rain.

The Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear has seen its days of glory and days of quiet solitude in my fly box. It's not always my first choice, but it's like an old friend you can rely on when the going gets tough.

What's fascinating is that no one really knows who first dreamt up the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph. Ian Whitelaw, in his book which I've thumbed through more times than I can count, mentions that it evolved from a wet fly. The original had wings from a starling feather and a tail of red hackle. But at some point, it shed its wings and became the nymph we know today.

The recipe for the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear has seen as many variations as there are stories in a fishing camp. From gold beads to different tail fibers, every angler adds their own touch. I've even played around with UV resin on the wing case, giving it a more lifelike appearance.

If you were to ask me, "If you could only fish with one fly for the rest of your life, what would it be?" I'd probably hem and haw, take a sip of my coffee, and then admit that the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear would be high on that list. It's been praised, written about, and fished with for over a century. And like any good story or old fishing hat, it never really gets old.

How to Tie the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

Hare's Ear Nymph

Materials

Tying Instructions

  1. Secure the hook in the vise and ensure the hook's barb is pinched down.
  2. Wrap the hook's midpoint with lead wire. Advance the lead wire towards the eye of the hook and cut or twist the wire portions. Push the lead wraps forward towards the eye of the hook.
  3. Begin wrapping your thread immediately behind the lead wraps. Build up a 'dam' of thread to hold the lead wire in place, then advance the thread wraps over the lead up to the hook eye - reverse it to the rear, stopping at the beginning of the hook bend.
  4. Securely tie 10-14 pheasant tail fibers, ensuring that these are on top of the hook shank and protruding from the hook's rear. Advance thread wraps forward over the butt ends of the PT fibers, stopping just beyond the mid shank and slightly over the lead-wrapped section of the hook shank. Leave the extending butt ends leaning forward.
  5. Secure a 2" piece of gold wire to the far side of the hook and wrap over the wire toward the bend, stopping at the location where the tail fibers were first tied in.
  6. Create a dubbing noodle by twisting a small amount of dubbing in your right hand, counter-clockwise onto the thread.
  7. Wrap the dubbing noodle forward to the point where the PT butts were previously secured.
  8. Make several spiraling wraps with the gold wire over the dubbed body. Secure the end of the wire with several tight thread wraps and trim or twist off the excess.
  9. Fold the pheasant tail fibers (or thin skin) over the back of the nymph to form the wing case. Make a few firm wraps to secure it. Trim the excess fibers.
  10. Whip finish under the wing case and apply a drop of head cement or clear nail polish to the thread for added durability. Your Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph is now ready to go.

Tips & Tricks