Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Stonefly Nymph

Hook:    Size 8, TMC 5262, Mustad Accu-point AC9672
Thread:  Tobacco Brown 6/0 Uni-thread
Tail:    tuft of Hare's mask
Abdomen: Australian possum to match natural Hare's Ear
Ribbing: Oval gold tinsel
Thorax:  Hare's ear, natural (I use an Antron blend)
Wingcase: Oak Turkey wing section

1) I usually weight this fly with about 12 wraps of .20 lead. overwrap with thread and wind thread back to bend.
2) Tie in tail. I actually find that squirrel fur, on the skin is easier for this step. I take a pice of \red or Fox suirrel, fold the skin in half, grap a small tuft with my left hand, and snip it off. I then tie it on as a small "tuft" of tail.
3) Tie on gold ribbing and pull out of the way.
4) For the thorax, I use Australian Possum, on the skin. I pull off a small bunch and pinch dub onto the thread. Wrap dubbed thread forward to form abdomen. Follow by winding ribbing forward and tying off and trimming excess.
5) Tie on section of turkey wing for the wingcase and leave back and out ofthe way. Before cutting section from the feather treat with acrylic spray or with flexible cement. I use thinned Goop.
6) Form a dubbing loop and wax lightly. spin dub Hare' Ear/Antron blend (I use a Dubbit Tool), forming a course, buggy brush. Wind thread forward to eye. Wrap Hare's Ear brush forward forming a buggy thorax.
7) Fold wingcase forward over thorax and tie off behind eye. Trim. Wrap head and whip finish.

This is a large size of the traditional GRHE Nymph. I tie it large, with a tapered abdomen and a bulky buggy thorax. It is a nice match for Golden stones and others. It produces on large or suprisingly small streams. Fish dead drift, or I sometime use it as the lead fly on a brace of wets swung down and across and walked back slowly. Use with a Lisenring Lift.

Preston Larimer, Elsah, Ill (jpl@prin.edu)