The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

When I was growing up and learning how to fly fish in the small creeks of Pennsylvania, my go to nymph was always the hare’s ear, usually natural colors. This is a fly, like others, that I just don’t hear about people using it too much in California. (My go to when fishing in Ca is the FBBHPT) Does anyone seriously fish with H.E. anymore?

Just a Friday afternoon curious question…

I fish a Hare's Ear all the time. It is just as good here as it was for me in Mud Run, the Little Lehigh (sp?) and other streams in PA in the late 60's.

I know lots of folks who adore the H.E.... one of those standard patterns, like a PT, that really works. If you are in the Presentation > Fly Selection camp, as I tend to be, you can't go wrong with an H.E.

When the fish aren't on the surface, the H.E., B.H. and otherwise, is one of my go-to flies for nymphing. Fun to tie and effective to fish with. Good stuff.

--FlyGuy (Dave)

Don't use the Hare's Ear much any more. I've switched over to a Birds nest instead. To me a hares ear is mostly a mayfly imitation while a birdsnest could represent any number of things.

Do I fish with a Hare's Ear,...does a hobby horse have a wooden sphincter?

Never (an absolute) without some Hare's Ear Patterns when I'm fishing.

Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph,

Hare's Ear Nymph tied in the round (no wing case, just a hackle collar),

& a Hare's Ear Parachute for a Callibaetis imitation on lakes.

Paul

Charlie, I learned a little West of Mud and Lehigh on some of the tribs going into Little Pine / Pine in Lycoming / Tioga counties, although I am a Pittsburgh native.

Ya, I am more in the presentation school, especially with the flies that I tie. This is not because I choose to be in that school, it’s because I have no choice. (And the rubberleg has caught me some nice fish)

But it does look like I have to dust off the H.E. from my last trip to Pa… and give them a go pretty soon.

The Hare's Ear is a great fly, though I agree with Trouttickler that the Bird's Nest is even better as a river nymph.

But on lakes...oooh boy! Try a Hare's ear with a black wingcase and the original flat gold tinsel rib, a very good Callibaetis nymph. I had one great windy afternoon on Manzanita Lake with the Hare's ear wet fly - I remember that Dave Hughes recommended it years ago as a Callibaetis nymph imitation. I greased it, and fish hammered it when twitched. Eventually lost both flies I had to premature rod raising - you know, a sharp tug and the feeling of loss....

Steve, its not just a river nymph. I've done very well with it with a slim version on lakes as a callibeatis imitation. Its one of my go to nymphs on lakes. A woolybugger with a birdsnest behind it is a great combo on lakes!

So I bet it's a good fly for fly fishing the Lake Tahoe region too.

Paul