Hare's Ear Nymph

The Hare’s Ear Nymph is one of the oldest and most enduring subsurface patterns in fly fishing, originating from traditional English wet flies tied with natural hare’s mask fibers. Its rough, buggy texture and mottled appearance were valued early on because they naturally suggested movement and life without imitating any single insect. As nymphing evolved, tiers adapted the pattern into the modern form—adding ribbing, shaping a tapered body, and refining the proportions—yet keeping the original “messy but alive” character that made it effective for generations. Its lasting success comes from its ability to mimic a wide range of underwater food forms with minimal materials and maximum realism.

Fish the Hare’s Ear higher in the water column by adding only a single, small split shot 18 inches above the fly. This creates a slow, drifting hover rather than a quick plunge.