50 Shades Of Hare's Ear: #47

#47    Hare's Ear Caddis or Deer (Elk) Hair Caddis

Notes:

(1)  This pattern came to fruition when I was looking for an alternative to using a lot of my expensive hackle.   Utilizing a dubbing method I've used for so many of hare's ear patterns I decided to give this a shot.   It can be dressed to skate or float low in the surface film.  This pattern takes a few seconds less to tie, but I feel it is just as effective as Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis.

(2)   The short, spiky hair from the ears is used to form a hackle effect enabling this pattern to skate across the surface.  I would definitely recommend keeping casts short (maximum 25-feet) to work the fly across runs and rifles.

(3)   Any fly floatant will work however, Hydrostop or Albolene (makeup remover) are great choices.

(4)   To form a thicker [caddis] body dubbing is applied fairly loose yet thick to the thread.  This will allow the hair to slightly flair.  Once the body has been wound forward pull the hair downward under the body.  Brush or pull hair rearward.  The wing is then applied.  

(5)  Before the wing is applied wind a small base of thread to keep the deer hair from spinning around the hook.  

(6)  This pattern should be tied in colors that match your local hatch.  However, the skating action will draw strike regardless of the color

(6)  I've used an indelible pen to mottle the deer hair.

Materials

Hook:  Dry fly.  Sizes 6-16.  (Firehole 419 #12 pictured) 

Thread:  6/0 or 8/0.  Dark brown or color to match body (Tan UTC 70 pictured)

Ribbing:  Fine, gold, round

Body:  Hare's ear.  Color of choice.  Raked directly from the ear.  

Wing:  Small clump of natural deer (Comparadun hair)