The Guides Choice Hares Ear is a highly effective and versatile fly pattern, renowned for its ability to imitate various aquatic insects. This nymph, often tied with a gold rib, is a staple for fly anglers targeting trout in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, proving its worth time and time again in many fly boxes.
Overview of the Hares Ear Nymph
The Hares Ear Nymph, a classic and widely used fly pattern, is celebrated for its buggy appearance and effectiveness in attracting fish. Its design, featuring a body of hare’s ear fur, often ribbed with gold wire, creates a realistic imitation of various aquatic insects, including mayfly, caddis, and stonefly nymphs. The natural texture and color variations of the hare’s fur contribute to the fly’s lifelike appeal, making it a go-to choice for many fly anglers. This nymph is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to different fishing conditions by varying its size, color, and the addition of a bead head for added weight. The Hares Ear Nymph is an impressionistic pattern, meaning it doesn’t exactly mimic any one insect but suggests a variety of them, making it effective in diverse environments and for different species. Its simplicity, combined with its proven track record, makes it a staple in any fly fishing collection. The pattern can be fished effectively in various water types, from swift-flowing rivers to still lakes, and is used worldwide by both beginners and experienced anglers.
Materials for Tying a Guides Choice Hares Ear
Tying the Guides Choice Hares Ear requires specific materials, including a hook, hare’s ear dubbing, gold wire or tinsel, and thread. Optional elements include a bead head for weight and pheasant tail fibers for a tail.
Hook Selection for the Fly
Selecting the appropriate hook is crucial for tying an effective Guides Choice Hares Ear. Typically, a 2X-long nymph hook is recommended, often in sizes ranging from 10 to 16. This longer shank provides ample space for the body and other components of the fly, giving it a more realistic profile in the water. The specific hook model can vary based on preference, but options like the Dai-Riki 730 or similar styles are popular choices. Barbless hooks are also a common option for those who prefer a catch and release approach. It is important to choose a hook that is sturdy and sharp to ensure the best hookset and hold when fishing. The hook’s size will depend on the size of the natural insects you are trying to imitate and the conditions you are fishing in, and will also effect the weight and profile of the fly.
Dubbing with Hare’s Ear Fur
Dubbing with hare’s ear fur is a fundamental step in creating the realistic body of a Guides Choice Hares Ear. The soft hair and stiff bristles of the hare’s mask provide a textured and buggy appearance that is very appealing to fish. When using the fur, it’s important to select the underfur, which is ideal for creating a naturally bulky body. The fur should be teased out and applied to the tying thread in small amounts, forming a tapered and segmented body. The use of a dubbing wax can help the fur adhere to the thread and create a more durable and compact body. This technique allows for a range of colours and textures, depending on the specific hare’s fur used, adding to the fly’s versatility.
Ribbing Material⁚ Gold Wire or Tinsel
The ribbing material, typically gold wire or tinsel, is crucial for both the durability and visual appeal of the Guides Choice Hares Ear. The gold wire offers a subtle flash and helps to segment the body, mimicking the natural segmentation of aquatic insects. Alternatively, gold tinsel can provide a brighter flash, attracting the attention of fish in various water conditions. The ribbing is applied over the dubbed body and secured at both the front and back of the fly, adding structural support and making it more resistant to wear. This step also enhances the fly’s overall presentation, making it look more realistic in the water and increasing its effectiveness.
Tail and Wing Case Variations
The tail and wing case of the Guides Choice Hares Ear offer opportunities for variation, allowing anglers to adapt the fly to different conditions and preferences. Common tail materials include pheasant tail fibers, which provide a natural look and movement. These fibers are typically tied in at the bend of the hook, extending backward to mimic the tail of a nymph. For the wing case, variations include using materials like flashabou, which adds a subtle flash, or strips of pheasant tail or other dark feather sections to create a more defined wing case. These variations not only change the appearance of the fly but can also affect its action in the water, enabling anglers to target specific species or conditions. The choice of material and application for the tail and wing case can significantly enhance the fly’s overall effectiveness.
Tying Techniques for the Guides Choice Hares Ear
Mastering the techniques for tying the Guides Choice Hares Ear involves precise steps. These steps ensure a durable and effective fly. Attention to detail in each step is crucial for success.
Step-by-Step Tying Instructions
To begin, secure your hook in the vise and start the thread, creating a base layer. Next, tie in the pheasant tail fibers for the tail, ensuring they extend to the hook bend. Then, attach the gold wire or tinsel for ribbing. Now, dub the hare’s ear fur onto the thread, forming a tapered body. Wrap the dubbed body from the tail forward, ending near the hook eye. Rib the body with the gold wire, securing it at the front. For the collar, add peacock herl just behind the eye of the hook. Finally, whip finish and add a drop of head cement. Be sure the proportions are correct.
Adding a Bead Head for Weight
Incorporating a bead head into the Guides Choice Hares Ear pattern is a common modification to enhance its effectiveness in deeper or faster-moving waters. The bead, typically gold or brass, provides additional weight, allowing the fly to sink more quickly and stay closer to the bottom where fish often feed. To add a bead head, slide the bead onto the hook before starting the thread and position it near the hook eye, thus securing it with thread wraps. This added weight not only helps with presentation but also creates a subtle flash, which can attract fish in murky conditions. The bead can be either slotted or a standard round bead, depending on the desired effect and the hook type used.
Variations and Modifications
The Guides Choice Hares Ear, while effective in its classic form, lends itself well to various modifications and variations to suit different fishing conditions and target species. One common variation includes incorporating a flashback wing case, often made from flashabou or similar material, to add an extra element of attraction and mimic the emerging wing pads of aquatic insects. Another modification involves altering the ribbing material, using tinsel or copper wire instead of gold, to create different flash and color profiles. Furthermore, the body dubbing can be varied, using different shades of hare’s ear or blending in other dubbing materials like seal’s fur to achieve a more realistic or buggy appearance. These small changes can greatly impact the fly’s effectiveness.
Effectiveness and Usage of the Guides Choice Hares Ear
The Guides Choice Hares Ear is a highly effective fly, imitating various aquatic insects, making it a go-to pattern for trout. Its versatility allows for diverse fishing techniques in many different water conditions.
Imitating Aquatic Insects
The Guides Choice Hares Ear nymph is a remarkable fly pattern due to its exceptional ability to imitate a wide array of aquatic insects, making it a staple in any fly fisher’s arsenal. Its buggy appearance, achieved through the use of hare’s ear dubbing, closely resembles the natural forms of various mayfly, caddisfly, and stonefly nymphs. The soft, mottled texture of the dubbing creates a lifelike impression, fooling even the wariest of trout. The subtle variations in color, from light to dark shades of brown, further enhance its imitative properties, allowing it to match a range of insect species at different stages of their life cycle. This adaptability is a key reason why the Hares Ear is so effective in diverse fishing environments. The addition of a gold rib adds a touch of flash, mimicking the natural glint of insect exoskeletons, while the overall profile of the fly closely matches the shape of many nymphs, making it an irresistible offering to trout feeding on the bottom of rivers and streams. It is this versatility that makes the Hares Ear a classic and timeless fly.
Fishing Techniques with the Hares Ear
The versatility of the Guides Choice Hares Ear nymph extends beyond its imitative qualities to the various fishing techniques it can be effectively used with. Employing this fly requires a strategic approach to maximize its potential. Commonly, it’s fished using a dead-drift technique, allowing it to tumble naturally along the bottom, mimicking the movement of a nymph dislodged from the streambed. This technique works exceptionally well in riffles and runs where trout are actively feeding on drifting insects. Alternatively, the Hares Ear can be used as a dropper fly beneath a larger, more visible dry fly, providing a two-pronged approach. When fishing in deeper pools or still waters, incorporating a slow, hand-twist retrieve can be effective, creating subtle movements that can trigger strikes from trout. Adding a bead head to the fly can also be beneficial, allowing it to sink more quickly and maintain a consistent position in the water column. The size of the fly should also be adjusted based on water conditions and the size of the natural insects present. Experimenting with different techniques will allow the angler to unlock this flies full potential.