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| Plover & Hare's Lug tied by Steven Bird |
There are probably as many
versions of the Hare’s Ear Nymph as there are fly tiers. Literature traces its
use in the British Isles back over 200 years,
& I’d guess some version of it predates surviving literature by hundreds of
years; & it remains a staple of anglers even now. Whatever the nuance of
variation, there is no doubting the effectiveness of hare’s mask as the basic
body material of the pattern. Some things are ideal in themselves; & these
things do serve to connect us through the generations. Charred oak will always
be better than plastic for aging whiskey in.
Our friend Bert sent me a generous
gift of the golden plover hackle needed to tie the Plover & Hare’s Lug, an ancient
pattern, still fished as an essential by many anglers across the water. The plover is beautiful,
with fat hackle barbs that are very soft, gray with golden yellow mottling that translate to gold leg tips when wound. I’ve
been tying a version of this hackled with a roughed grouse wing covert, which
is similar to the plover (without the yellow tips), but I can’t wait to fish this traditional version.
Plover & Hare’s Lug
Hook: #10-#18
standard wetfly, or Daiichi 1150 caddis style
Thread: Yellow,
orange, brown or olive – hard-core anglophiles & traditionalists will use
Pearsall’s Tying Silk
Rib (optional): Fine wire, & I’ve seen versions tied with tinsel
Body: Dubbing
pulled from the ear of a natural hare’s mask – pinch the fur off with your
thumb & forefinger – dubbed in a loop, split-thread dubbed, or twist-dubbed
on silk
Hackle: One
turn of golden plover wing covert – finish with a full, tapered head & apply a drop of Loon Hard Head.
Flyfish the Upper Columbia/NE Washington with Steven Bird: http://ucflyfishing.blogspot.com
