The latest how-to video from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions is focused on a truly classic pattern, one that’s been around for well over a century. What trips up many tiers is making the matched pair of wings. Tim walks you through his process for finding the perfect pair of slips, perparing them, and then getting them to stay atop the hook shank. There are a few other good tips, as well, such as how to create an anchor for tying in a hackle and how to create a gap in the hackle for the wings.
Hare’s Ear Wet
Hook: Black, 3X-strong nymph hook (here, a Fulling Mill FM51 05), size 14.
Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Rib: Gold Oval French Tinsel, small.
Tail: Brown Indian neck hackle fibers.
Body: Light hare’s-mask dubbing.
Hackle: Indian neck hackle.
Wings: Mallard primary-feather slips.
Head: Tying thread.
Adhesive: Head cement.
Tools: Hackle pliers.