The Fishin' Hole Olive Hares Ear

Recipe:
Hooks- Nymph sz10
Thread- Rumpf prewaxed Black 6/0
Weight- fine lead wire
Tail Golden Pheasant tips
Wing Case- Natural turkey
Body- Olive dubbing or olive hares mask (between ears) for body, Olive Hares Mask cheek for thorax

Instructions:
start thread in usual manner, bind in 3 inches of lead wire and give 8 to 10 wraps (as desired) in center of shank. Bind in with thread and coat with head cement or thin super glue or CA.

Wind thread to rear of hook, just ahead of bend. snip appropriate amount of Golden pheasant hackle tips, fold dull sides together so that all sides are showing the high contrast orange and black tips. bind in 2- 3 inches of thin gold tinsel or ribbing. Wax about 3" of thread with dubbing wax and twist on a sparse amount of dubbing without guard hairs. Wind dubbed thread forward to about 1/2 way of shank. Strip off excess dubbing.
Loose spiral tinsel or ribbing forward to same point and lock in place.

Snip out about 1/4 inch wide section of mottled turkey tail or wing (tail seems to be easier to work with, having thinner fibers) smooth and marry all fibers by stroking them with the grain between thumb and forefinger. Cover in head cement and let dry thoroughly.
Roll turkey fibers over top of hook (dull side up) with tips facing the tail, and bind in at the base.

Form a 3" dubbing loop and wax generously. Wind thread forward leaving space for the head behind the eye.
Snip and spread a clump of olive hares mask from the cheek area and leave in guard hairs. spread over loop and twist them into place. Grab the bottom of the loop with hackle pliers. Wind dubbing loop forward, leaving plenty of room to tie off and leave the eye open. Bind in place with thread and trim.

Pull turkey biots or tail piece forward over the top to form wing case. Give plenty of good wraps to hold in place, whip finish with 5 twists and head cement in place. Note that it may be necessary to give one or two wraps UNDER turkey wing case at the head to angle the turkey feathers up slightly beyond the eye. Half hitch or whip finish to secure over top of wingcase. Snip turkey biots slightly beyond hook eye to represent insects head. Cement everything in place one final time.

These flies have proven themselves here in Maine on trout and salmon, but seem to be a FAVORITE of small mouth bass. Just let this little guy tumble along rocky bottoms near currents in warmer waters all through the summer months. The contrast of the golden pheasant tips seems to be an essential element for finicky fish.

NOTE:
Please do not reproduce this recipe or image without permission or attaching credit to mainetackle.com and the Fishin' Hole where these Maine flies can be purchased.