The Hare and Copper has become one of the “super flies” of my nymph box. This New Zealand pattern is very popular over there for good reason. These guys are quick and easy to whip out and they just catch fish! This is a great fly for beginners to tie because of its simplicity. I like to fish them as a searching pattern with a tiny pheasant tail or midge larva dropper under an indicator.
Hook: #8-16 nymph Bead: Gold brass or tungsten Tail: Brown hen hackle fibers Body: Hare’s ear dubbing, tied very spiky Rib: Gold copper wire
- Step 1
1. Tie in the thread and bring it to the back of the hook.
- Step 2
2. Measure a clump of hen hackle fibers to about half the length of the hook shank. Wrap over the fibers to the bead and trim the excess.
- Step 3
3. Tie in the wire at the bead and wrap over it to the back of the hook.
- Step 4
4. Apply dubbing wax to the thread. Touch dub with hare’s ear dubbing. Part of this fly’s effectiveness is due to the fact that it is very spiky, so do not tighten the dubbing too much.
- Step 5
5. Wrap the dubbing to the bead. If the fly looks really wild right now, thats okay, the wire will help.
6. Bring the wire forward in spiralling even wraps. Counter wrapping will increase the durability of the fly. Tie off the wire with around five tight wraps.
- Step 7
7. Helicopter off the wire by violently rotating it in circular movements above the hook shank. This gives you a nice clean break-off and minimal thread cutting from the sharp tag.
- Step 8
8. Touch dub another section of thread for the collar.
- Step 9
9. Form a lose collar with the dubbing to cover up the wire tag and the thread.
- Step 10
10. Whip and clip. Completed Hare and Copper nymph.
Tight Lines!
Conner
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