Fly Tying Guide: Winged Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear Dryfly

With: Davie McPhail

Ah, the classic Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear—one of my all-time favorite dry flies! This version with a wing is a tribute to the early days of fly tying, when every new pattern felt like a personal masterpiece. Perfect for imitating nymphs emerging to the surface, this fly sits elegantly on the water, catching trout’s attention even when the river’s a little lazy. Whether you’re tying for nostalgia or your next trout adventure, this fly is fun, forgiving, and incredibly effective. Grab your materials and let’s make a bit of history on the vise today!

Step-by-Step Tying Guide

1. Hook & Thread Prep

   • Use a size 14 Ultimate Dry Fly hook, black nickel.

   • Start your 70-denier warm yellow thread at the eye and wrap halfway down the shank. Remove any excess material on the shank and then bring the thread back up.

2. Tail

   • Select fibers from fiery ginger Coq de Leon (or similar) for the tail.

   • Length: roughly the same as hook shank. Attach 3–6 fibers at the bend, ensuring natural curve. Lock with a few thread wraps.

3. Body Dubbing

   • Blend hares ear fibers with guard hairs from hair’s mask.

   • Apply lightly to thread, forming a slightly tapered body along the hook shank.

4. Ribbing

   • Use small gold tinsel. Wrap 4–5 turns evenly along the body to add segmentation and flash.

5. Wing

   • Select primary teal feathers (or gray wing/BL wing) and pair them for symmetry.

   • Tie in so the tips extend slightly beyond the hook shank and curve naturally away from each other.

   • Secure with pinch-loop method and several wraps. Trim excess tips and adjust for taper.

6. Hackle/Guard Hair Overlay

   • Use longer guard hairs from hair’s mask or blended dubbing.

   • Wrap lightly around the thorax area just behind the wing to give life-like leg motion.

7. Finishing

   • Pull wing fibers back and ensure even taper.

   • Apply thread whip finish near eye.

   • Optional: add a small drop of fly varnish on thread wraps for durability.

   • Adjust wing fibers so they free up when casting and maintain a natural posture on the water.

Materials Recipe – Winged Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear Dryfly

• Hook: Ultimate Dry Fly, Black Nickel, Size 14

• Thread: Fuller Mill Pro Twisted 70 Denier, Warm Yellow

• Tail: Fiery Ginger Coq de Leon fibers, 3–6 fibers, length equal to hook shank

• Body: Hares ear fur blended with guard hairs

• Rib: Small gold tinsel, 4–5 wraps along body

• Wing: Primary teal feathers (or gray/BL wing), tips extending slightly past hook shank

• Hackle/Thorax Overlay: Guard hairs from hair’s mask (optional for extra movement)

• Finish: Whip finish + optional thread varnish