Hare's Ear Nymph tail

[Mustang Mike 0]

I 've tyed a fair numbr of Hares Ear nymphs but the one area that seems to have the most inconsistency for me is the tail. When I use guard hair from the mask, I either seem to get too much hair (which has been difficult to seperate), too few guard hairs (and the tail looks "soft") :crying: And how DO I cut into the mask fur for the best results? I do know "where" on the mask I'm suppose to cut, I just don't seem to be able to get the correct amount, or quality, of guard hairs. :dunno:

 

I have used pheasant tail and that seems to alleviate the problem, but I would like to tie the fly in the more "traditional" fashion.

 

Any suggestions?

 

[flytire 0]

Tie them this way!

 

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/de...cfm?parentID=55

[Soft-hackle 0]

Mike,

I've seen this fly tied a number of different ways, and I'd consider all of them "correct" as long as you use the English Hare's Ear for dubbing. The traditional nymph has no legs other than the guard hair from the dubbing. I've seen the pattern as shown on Charlie's site, but I've seen it tied with guard hair from the Hare's Ear, with wood duck or mandarin flank, and with hen pheasant tail. I myself like the hen pheasant tail. It seems to fit the fly color, nicely. I've also seen the nymph tied without gold ribbing, but with an olive thread as a ribbing. I believe this was the earlier of the two versions.

 

My best,

Mark

[phg 0]

Getting the right amount of fur just takes practice What I try to do is estimate how much guard hair I need for the tail, and pinch that much. To remove the hair, pull your pinch straight up, and slid a sharp pair of scissors in as close to the skin as you can get, and snip it off. Without releasing the pinch, now massage the under fur out from around the base of the guard hairs. Work gently, and you will be left with mostly guard hairs in your fingers. I transfer this pinch of guard hairs between hands to measure the lenght, and consolidate the bundle a bit, but I don't try to stack it, I just put it on the hook shank and tie it down. The tail should only be about 1 hook gape long anyway.

 

As for the underfur, I will put that into the palm of my hand, and rub it around with the index finger of my other hand. Once it is scrambled up enough, I work it into a long thin yarn, like any other dubbing. Natural hare's ear tends to be a bit short, and will have a lot of short guard hairs. The yarn breaks easily so work gently with it.

 

As for where to get the fur, I like to work around the eyes of the mask, but, depending on the color I want for the finished nymph, I will go anywhere on the mask. Mine goes from soft grey to almost white, to a medium brown.

[appalachian angler (tn.) 0]

Try the hair from right between the ears on the mask. I believe PHG was on the mark in his suggested method. Like he said, the dubbing you pick from the clump will work well for the body of the fly. I tie the underfur+gaurd hairs in a dubbing loop and wrap the whole fly body.

 

Another nice option for tails to compliment a darker hair is bronze mallard. give it a try!

 

AA

[Mustang Mike 0]

Thanks guys! I'll see if how it all turns out this weekend if/when I get some time at the tying bench!

[Mike Sammon 0]

Hi Mike,

having tied and number of these over the years from a size 20 hook to size 12 I have never used anything but the English hare mask with a gold rib(you can't beat the old reliable standards)The mask is usually cut in half down the center.

Normally I would take a bunch of hairs the thickness of the hook gape that I am going to use, then cut the hair at the base from along the cut edge side of the mask.

Holding the bunch firmly in the left hand remove the softer fur from the base of the cut when this has been complete you should be left with the gaurd hairs that you require.Hope this is of help.

 

If you are not to sure of the details above let me know and I will take some photos explaining how to do acheive the final result.

 

Good luck

Mike

[Guest]

I like the hair around the cheeks. I take a small pinch between my fingers, as small as I can get, and snip it close to the skin with my fine tipped scissors. I hold the tips between the fingers of my left hand, and pull off the underfur with my right. I save the underfur for dubbing and tie in the tail loosely. If it's too thick I pull out a few hairs and then tie it in.

 

Usually it's too thick at first.