Start Fly Tying
Gold Headed Hare's Ear
Tying a weighted gold bead onto a hook and tying on a nymph-like body makes it so easy to catch a fish it is almost cheating. The weight gets the fly down quickly - which can be especially important in rivers with a faster flow and where the fish are feeding low in the water. Why does it catch so well? Maybe the smooth, gold bead is suggestive of trapped air, as the nymph is lifted through the water, like an insect making for the surface? Nobody can know for certain, but try it - it does work!
Regarding the bead, you will find that one side of the hole is bevelled. I was once told that this side should go up against the hook-eye, so the eye of the hook sinks into the recess. I tie it the other way around, because that just seemed to make the fly harder to tie on the tippet. And, the other way, it means that the body material goes into the recess of the bead itself. I am not sure if there is a definitive 'right or wrong'.
Try both, make your own mind up and console yourself with the thought that the fish won't give two hoots.
You can buy all the tools and materials to tie this fly here.
Hook: weighted hook - here we use a Kamasan B405 sub-surface size 14
Thread: Brown
Body: Fur from hare's mask.
Rib: Gold wire.
Regarding the bead, you will find that one side of the hole is bevelled. I was once told that this side should go up against the hook-eye, so the eye of the hook sinks into the recess. I tie it the other way around, because that just seemed to make the fly harder to tie on the tippet. And, the other way, it means that the body material goes into the recess of the bead itself. I am not sure if there is a definitive 'right or wrong'.
Try both, make your own mind up and console yourself with the thought that the fish won't give two hoots.
You can buy all the tools and materials to tie this fly here.
Hook: weighted hook - here we use a Kamasan B405 sub-surface size 14
Thread: Brown
Body: Fur from hare's mask.
Rib: Gold wire.
1: Slide the bead onto the hook - make a decision which way - enter the controversy. Clamp the hook into the vise and put a drop of superglue just before the hook-eye. Slide the bead up against the hook-eye. Remember, this stuff dries quickly so don't hang around. And don't stick your finger to the bead.
2: Give the bead a minute or two to set, then wind on your thread immediately behind it. Wind in touching turns to the hook-bend, and tie in a small bunch of hare guard hairs for a tail.
3: Tie in the gold wire rib.
4: Form a dubbing rope with the hare's fur, including plenty of spiky hairs. Wind the dubbing body, then the rib, and tie off behind the bead. You are looking to make around four, equally spaced turns for the rib. Snip off the excess rib. Little trick here - if you have used fine gold wire, a quick twist and gentle tug at this point will snap off the wire without the need for scissors. Give it a try. Hey - you are a real fly tyer now!
