The alluring qualities of many nymph imitations depend on the fact that the body of the flies has many small excrescences, or appendixes, able to oscillating or vibrate when are invested by the current flow. Substantially, the work of these attributes is to reproduce all those swimming or respiratory organs which are present on the abdomen and thorax of nymphs and that generally contribute to render the preys more attractive for the fish. In virtue of this fact, a great percentage of imitations of young ephemeral and sedge is composed with soft downs, that are applied to the hooks with the dubbing techniques.
The dubbing techniques can be distinguished in two main categories: the first one contemplates the use of a special wax, or resin, in order to fatten the thread, the second one suggest to utilise an appropriate dubbing spinner to form a loop with the thread, in which we insert the materials for creating the hairy rope. The difference between the two systems is that, with the wax dubbing, the bodies of the flies appear more compact, while in second case the artificial seems fluffier. For these different characteristics, the two techniques are often requested for building the distinctive parts of a nymph. An example of that is given by the dressing of the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, one of the most known and effective imitations of ephemeral at the nymph stage, which is built with practically on ingredient (the hare’s ear fur) applied to the hook with the different dubbing techniques. This artificial, not really young but always appreciated by the anglers, is a successfully pattern because of the great versatility that demonstrates in every situation. In fact it can be used as a nymph for deep fishing, applying a suitable ballast structure to the hook, or as an emergent nymph, building it on light wire hooks: in this case, the fly can help us to tempt fish that are feeding just below the water surface.
The dubbing techniques can be distinguished in two main categories: the first one contemplates the use of a special wax, or resin, in order to fatten the thread, the second one suggest to utilise an appropriate dubbing spinner to form a loop with the thread, in which we insert the materials for creating the hairy rope. The difference between the two systems is that, with the wax dubbing, the bodies of the flies appear more compact, while in second case the artificial seems fluffier. For these different characteristics, the two techniques are often requested for building the distinctive parts of a nymph. An example of that is given by the dressing of the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, one of the most known and effective imitations of ephemeral at the nymph stage, which is built with practically on ingredient (the hare’s ear fur) applied to the hook with the different dubbing techniques. This artificial, not really young but always appreciated by the anglers, is a successfully pattern because of the great versatility that demonstrates in every situation. In fact it can be used as a nymph for deep fishing, applying a suitable ballast structure to the hook, or as an emergent nymph, building it on light wire hooks: in this case, the fly can help us to tempt fish that are feeding just below the water surface.
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INSTRUCTIONS
I start the building process of the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear clamping into the vice jaw the hook and then winding the black thread on to the shank. I fix a piece of fine lead wire to the hook and I wrap it along the front half of the shank in order to realise the ballast structure
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I cut off a small tuff of hair from the hare’s fur and I secure it in proximity of the curve, placing it so it extends out from the hook bend for a length equivalent to the shank
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With some turns of the thread, I tie in a piece of fine copper wire; I wax a section of thread and I distribute over it a pinch of hare’s ear hair. Next, with the thumb and the index finger of my right hand, I compact the dubbing
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Turning the dubbing around the rear two thirds of the hook shank, I create the abdomen of the imitation, abdomen that I rib with the copper wire
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We cut off a section of fibres from a grey goose feather and I tie in it in front of the abdomen, placing it in order that it extends backwards over the body. Next, using the dubbing spinner, I form a loop with the black thread and I insert in it a pinch of hare’s fur hair, realising a fluffy dubbing
Wrapping the dubbing around the front third of the hook shank, I build the nymph thorax
I push the tuft of goose fibres forwards, placing it to cover the upper part of the thorax, and I secure it just behind the hook eye
I cut off now the surplus of the material for the elytrum; then I form the fly head with some turns of thread and I whip finish over it
A light layer of glue uniformly distributed over the head will prevent to the thread to untie itself, increasing the resistance of the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
MATERIALS LIST
HOOK: long shank size 16 to 12
BALLAST (optional): fine lead wire
THREAD: black
TAILS: hare’s fur hair
ABDOMEN: Hare’s ear hair
RIBBING: fine copper wire (the original dressing suggest the fine oval gold tinsel)
THORAX: hare’s fur hair
ELYTRUM: section of fibres from a grey goose feather (the original dressing suggest a black goose feather)
BALLAST (optional): fine lead wire
THREAD: black
TAILS: hare’s fur hair
ABDOMEN: Hare’s ear hair
RIBBING: fine copper wire (the original dressing suggest the fine oval gold tinsel)
THORAX: hare’s fur hair
ELYTRUM: section of fibres from a grey goose feather (the original dressing suggest a black goose feather)
