March 14, 2012
By Fly Fisherman
Step 1 Start the thread and wrap a thread base back to the bend. Peel off a small clump of mottled hen saddle fibers and measure them against the shank so they are about ½ a shank length long.
Step 2 Tie the hen fibers in at the bend and wrap forward over the butt ends. Clip the excess hen fibers flush.
Step 3 Tie in a piece of small gold wire and wrap back over it to the bend.
Step 4 Dub a tapered abdomen with the Hare's Mask dubbing.
Step 5 Spiral wrap the wire forward over the abdomen to the front and tie it off. Clip the excess wire.
Step 6 Tie in a turkey tail slip on the front edge of the abdomen with the inside of the feather facing up.
Step 8 Pull the turkey tail slip forward over the top of the thorax and tie it down behind the eye.
Step 9 Build a smooth thread head, whip finish and clip the thread.
Step 10 Pick out the dubbing in the thorax with a dubbing brush to simulate legs.
Hares Ear Recipe:
Hook: TMC 5262 #8-18
Thread: Tan 6/0 or 8/0
Tail: Mottled Hen Saddle Fibers
Rib: Small Gold Wire
Abdomen: Hare's Mask Dubbing
Wingcase: Turkey Tail Feather Slip
Thorax: Hare's Mask Dubbing
Fly Fisherman Foundational Forty: Fly Tying a Hares Ear