Hare's Ear Soft Hackle

Materials

How to Tie the Hare's Ear Soft Hackle

1. 1

   Step 1

   Optionally add a bead to the hook. Secure the hook in the vise and start thread behind the bead or eye, wrapping back to the bend.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Tie in a small clump of hare's mask or pheasant tail fibers as a tail, about half the shank length.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie in fine gold or copper wire at the hook bend for ribbing.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Create a dubbing noodle with hare's ear dubbing and wrap forward to form a rough, buggy body covering 2/3 to 3/4 of the shank. Leave room for the thorax and hackle.

   Keep the dubbing rough and spiky for a natural, buggy appearance.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Counter-wrap the wire ribbing forward over the body in open spirals for segmentation and durability. Tie off and trim.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Add darker or spikier dubbing just behind the bead or hook eye to create a pronounced thorax.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Select a soft hackle feather (partridge or hen back). Strip the fluff from the base. Tie in by the tip, shiny side out, in front of the thorax.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Make 1-2 wraps of the hackle, sweeping fibers rearward as you wrap. Secure and trim the stem.

   One to two wraps keeps the hackle sparse and mobile—key for soft hackle effectiveness.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Build a thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.