The gold-ribbed hare’s ear (also called the Hare’s Ear) is one of my favorite all-purpose general nymphs. It can be tied in a variety of colors- brown, tan, olive, cream, rust and even black. Although it is a general nymph that can imitate a variety of underwater insects, I think that the Hare’s Ear is a fantastic imitation of the caddis fly. Caddis flies, also called sedges, are an important moth-like insect that are found on rivers and lakes all over the world. Caddis spend most of their life living underwater and are called pupae. Once the caddis pupa grows full size, it floats to the water’s surface and hatches into an adult caddis fly and flies away. I think that the Hare’s Ear imitates a caddis pupa that is floating to the surface and is an easy meal for fish to eat.

Hook: Wet 2x long
Tail: Fur from Hare’s Ear
Body: Rabbit fur, blended
Wingcase: Turkey or Pheasant tail
Rib: Gold tinsel or wire
Thread: Black 6/0

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Step 1
Place the hook in the vise and start the thread, winding towards the bend of the hook.

Step 2
Cut a pinch of fur from a rabbit mask and tie in at the rear of the hook. The rabbit fur tail should be approx. as long as the gape of the hook.

Step 3
Tie in a length of gold tinsel or wire at the rear of the hook as shown.

Step 4
Take a pinch of rabbit fur dubbing and spin it onto the thread by rubbing it between your thumb and index finger. Soon, the dubbing should form a rope around your thread as shown.

Step 5
Wrap the dubbing and thread around the hook shank towards the eye of the hook, but stop approx. just past the middle of the hook shank.

Step 6
Take a section of turkey or pheasant tail and tie it in, with the tail fibers extending towards the rear of the hook.

Step 7
Dub more rabbit fur onto the thread and wind towards the eye of the hook.

Step 8
Pull the tail fibers over top of the dubbing and towards the eye of the hook. Tie off and trim the tail fibers.

Step 9
Whip finish or half hitch the thread and secure the thread wraps with head cement.