Learn how to tie the Guide's Choice Hare's Ear pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here

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The Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear takes the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear’s winning formula and makes it even better! A soft hackle collar and hotspot add just enough subtle differences to trick picky trout. The Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear is easy to tie, imitates a broad range of insects, and is effective on the swing. What else is there to say?

Material List

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Step One

Begin the pattern by sliding the bead to the hook’s eye, then wrapping the lead wire from the hook’s point to the bead.

Step Two

Create a hot spot below the lead wire by winding the red thread several times. Next, advance the thread up the shank, then back to the hook’s curve.

Step Three

For the tail section, tie on a small clump of guard hairs from the hare’s mask right below the lead wire, then make several wraps along the shank.

Step Four

Tie the gold tinsel at the same position as the hare’s mask, then cover the material until the thread runs parallel to the hook’s barb. Be sure to leave the end portion of the material attached to work with later.

Step Five

Dubbing will help develop the pattern’s body. Noodle the fibers onto the thread, then make several tight wraps along the shank until you reach a scissors tip width from the bead.

Step Six

Take the tip end of the gold tinsel and make evenly spaced wraps over the dubbed body, then tie off near the bead.

Step Seven

Tie the pearl tinsel material on top of the shank at the collar for the wingcase.

Step Eight

Secure a strand of peacock herl at the neck, then wrap the material several times below the bead for the fly’s thorax.

Step Nine

Finish the Guide Choice’s Hare’s Ear’s wingcase by pulling the pearl tinsel fabric forward and tying it off below the bead. Be sure to snip the excess material before moving on.

Step Ten

We’re using the Hungarian partridge hackle to develop the collar. Tie on a feather at the tip and wrap the fibers below the bead, completing one turn.

Step Eleven

Finish the pattern by making several wraps between the feather and bead, then secure a whip finish.