50 Shades Of Hare's Ear: #7 And #8

50 Shades Of Hare's Ear

#7  Peacock sword/herl for tails and wingcases

Hook:  Hends BL554, Size 12

Weight;  To suit

Thread: UTC 70, brown

Tail:  3 or 4 peacock sword tips or herl from below the eye. (Sword pictured.)

Ribbing:  Hends .09mm, gold.  

Body:  Hare's ear taken from the ear, dyed brown

Wingcase:  6 to 8 peacock sword tips or 8 to 10 herl from below the eye. (Sword pictured.)

Thorax:  Same as body.  Picked out.

Notes:

(1)  Never underestimate the attractive power of peacock!  Randall Kaufmann popularized peacock herl for wingcases on his hare's ear variants as well as peacock sword for the wingcases on his Filoplume Mayfly patterns.

(2)  The ribbing is formed with 2-strands of gold wire doubled over to make 4-strands with a loop at the opposite end.  The four ends are tied in along the back of the hook shank.  Insert a dubing twister in the loop and twist clockwise.  The body is dubbed and the ribbing wound forward.  The sole purpose of showing the reader this is simply giving an additional option for an oval tinsel.  It does looks aesthetically pleasing though...

#8  Flashbacks and feather fibers for tailing material

Hook:  Hends BL554, Size 12

Weight;  To suit

Thread: 6/0 Danville, orange #7

Tail:  Ruffed grouse

Ribbing:  Lagartun, small, gold oval  

Body:  Natural hare's ear taken from the ear mixed with a small amount of orange Ice Dubbing.
Wingcase:  Natural pheasant tail fibers.  Uni-mylar, orange covered with UV resin.

Thorax:  Same as body.  Picked out.

Notes:

(1)  Any feather can be used for a tailing material as previously noted.  Dyed or natural pheasant, partridge and grouse are extremely common on the GRHE

(2)  I added a small amount for orange Ice Dubbing to brighten the body.
(3)  Adding a flashback can make nearly any nymph more effective.  Various tinsels and mylar can be utilized depending on the effect the tier is looking for.  Applying epoxy or UV resin to the wingcase is optional.  Not only does this add a protective coating it also gives a different light signature.