Bodkin / Patterns

Hare and Copper

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook standard or 1X-long nymph, 10-16
  • Thread brown 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Pheasant tail fibers or rabbit guard hairs (6-8)
  • Body/Thorax Hare's ear fur with guard hairs left in (1 pinch)
  • Rib Copper wire (1)
  • Weight (optional) Lead wire underbody or 3mm bead (1)

How to tie it

  1. Optionally slide a bead to the eye and wrap a lead wire underbody tapered toward the bend; cover with thread.
  2. Tie in a tail of pheasant tail fibers about half a shank length long at the bend.
  3. Tie in the copper wire at the tail tie-in point.
  4. Wax the thread and dub hare's fur loosely, guard hairs and all, building a shaggy, carrot-shaped body that thickens toward the 75% mark; don't dub tight, the straggle IS the fly's leg imitation.
  5. Dub a slightly fatter thorax to just behind the eye (or bead).
  6. Counter-wrap the copper wire forward in 4-5 open turns through the fur, wiggling it so it seats without trapping fibers; tie off and helicopter the tag end.
  7. Pick out fur along the sides with a dubbing needle, whip finish and cement.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Beadhead.

Tying videos

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