How to tie The Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear
In this week’s episode of Tying Tuesdays, watch as Brady Laher ties the Soft hackle Hare’s Ear! An old favorite, the Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear is one of those all-time great flies. Utilizing some of the best possible natural materials it is one fishy fly. Not only does partridge, peacock herl, and hares ear material fish great, it works great too! This Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear is one of the most forgiving flies in my box. It works just as well dead drifted under an indicator as it does coming around on the swing. It can be fished all year and in many different water types. There are numerous color options available that can be used and substituted to help create a unique fly that works for you. Spin some up and get them out on your line!
Ingredients & Recipe
- Hook – Firehole 718
- Thread – Veevus 10/0 Red
- Tail – Hare’s Mask
- Body – Hare’s Mask
- Ribbing – Gold French Tinsel
- Collar – Peacock Herl
- Soft Hackle – Partridge
Tools Used
- Vise – Griffin Mongoose
- Scissors – Dr. Slick Arrow Point
- Bodkin – Rising Stout Bodkin
- Whip Finish – Dr. Slick Brass Whip Finish
That’s a great looking fly! The guard hair tail and the red thread really stand out nicely. One thing I do on my Hare’s Ear flies, both soft hackles and nymphs, is use a dubbing loop. What this allows me to do is counter-wrap the dubbing and then forward-wrap the rib. Crossing over the dubbing like that obviously keeps the ribbing from disappearing into the dubbing but it is also a more effective way of tying down the ribbing material at the thorax. When the ribbing is wrapped in the same direction as the thread is being wrapped, it prevents the ribbing from slipping and loosening up.