How to Tie the Guide's Choice Hare's Ear Pattern

Mar 01, 2022 · 3 min read

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

Hook - TMC 5263, size 12
Bead - Hareline Plummeting Tungsten, Gold
Thread - UTC 70, Red
Underbody - Lead Wire .020
Tail - Guard hairs from a Hares Mask
Rib - Small Tinsel, Gold
Body - Hares Ear Dubbing
Flash Back - Veevus Pearl Tinsel
Thorax - Peacock Herl
Collar - Hungarian Partridge
Loon UV, thin

Buy Material Kit

Step One

Gold beadhead hook with tight silver wire wraps on curved shank clamped in vise, fly tying Hare's Ear fly pattern

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

Hare's ear nymph with red thread body, silver wire ribbing and gold bead head on hook clamped in vise, fly tying

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

Beadhead Guide's Choice Hare's Ear fly: gold bead, red thread body, silver ribbing and brown tail for fly fishing

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

Beadhead Hare's Ear fly in vise with gold bead, red thread body, natural brown hare tail and silver ribbing for fly fishing

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

Beadhead Hare's Ear fly in vise with tan dubbing body, gold bead head, red thread wraps and olive tail fibers

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

Hare's Ear nymph with gold bead head, brown hare dubbing body and brown tail, red thread wraps, tied on hook for fly fishing

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

Bead-headed Hare's Ear nymph with tan dubbing and red thread on hook held in vise for fly fishing tying

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

Step Eight

Beadhead hare's ear in vise mid-tie with gold bead, brown dubbing tail, peacock herl thorax and red thread, fly tying

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

Beadhead Hare's Ear nymph fly with tan hare dubbing, dark peacock thorax, brown tail fibers and gold beadhead on hook

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

Hare's ear fly with gold bead head, peacock dubbing body, tan barred feather hackle and red thread in vise — fly tying

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

Bead-head Hare's Ear nymph with tan hare dubbing, brown mottled hackle, gold bead and red collar for fly fishing

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

Written by

Stephen D' Angelo

Stephen D'Angelo is a fly fishing expert with a passion for fly tying, gear, and time on the water. From small-stream trout to saltwater flats fishing, Stephen brings hands-on experience across a wide range of species and scenarios — and he's always happy to help you find the right setup for your next adventure.

Comments

(1)

Barry

Mar 2, 2026

Nice pattern. Looks like I have a couple dozen to tie. Thanks