Jan’s Flies - Hares Ear Nymph

From the Archives ...

Sea runners - Early Season Excitement - Christopher Bassano

Presented from Issue 100
Considering the world class quality of our sea trout fishery, these fish are not sought after by enough anglers. Sea runners live in the salt water and run up our estuaries and rivers from the start of August to the middle of November. At this time of the year, they are here to eat the many species of fish that are either running up the rivers to spawn or are living in and around the estuary systems. Trout, both sea run and resident (Slob Trout) feed heavily on these small fish which darken in colouration as they move further into fresh water reaches.

The majority of these predatory fish are brown trout with rainbows making up a very small percentage of the catch. They can be found all around the state but it would be fair to say that the east coast is the least prolific of all the areas. They still run up such rivers as the Georges (and many others) but their numbers along with the quality of the fishing elsewhere make it difficult to recommend the area above the larger northern, southern and western rivers.

Presented from Issue 112, October 2014

As the Spring bulbs flower, the willows bud up and turn to soft green, I get quite excited about what is to come. Last season was a little tough, but from what I have seen so far this season looks pretty good in the Highlands. Nymphs and dry flies are uppermost in my mind at the moment. For me October means mayflies on the rivers and that means dry fly fishing, which I look forward to.

But hatching mayflies also means nymphs rising through the water column. If I had to pick just one nymph it would be a Hares Ear pattern. Most importantly though is size, colour and shape. Small patterns for the start of the season and as they grown so do my artificials. I believe the nymphs vary widely in colour as well depending on the habitat.

112 jan hare ear2 The Hares Ear nymph does have a variation in colour if tied with hares ear and mask fur as the pattern stipulates. This pattern can be weighted with lead wire and it is also popular tied with a gold bead head. The guard hairs should be left protruding from the body as this will give the fly more life and the trout love that.

Hares Ear Nymph Hook: Long shank 16-10 Thread: Brown Tail: A bunch of nice straight hairs from the mask Rib: Gold wire Body: Hares ear and mask fur with guard hairs left in Wing case: Bronze mallard Thorax: Same as body

Method 1. Take brown thread full length of shank, tie in a nice bunch of hairs from the mask for a tail and tie in the wire rib. 2. Cut a couple of chunks of hair from the mask and mix it together, then dub it onto the thread and wind on the body, finish 2/3 to the eye. Wind rib forwards over body in nice even turns, tie down and cut away excess. 3. Tie in bronze mallard for thorax. Tie slip facing back towards bend. Then dub some more hares mask fur for thorax and finish behind the eye. 4. Bring the mallard slip over the top of the thorax, tie down firmly and cut away excess. Form a nice head and varnish. A gold bead head can be added for weight or lead wire under the body.

This is Jan’s last column and I (Ed.) sincerely thank her for sharing her flies. She has contributed this column since edition one. Jan wants to do more fishing and she would like to thank everyone who has supported her, applauded and even the rare criticism. Jan says it has made her a better tier.

Tightlines Jan.