Hare and Copper nymph variant (AKA that fly everyone has been asking about)

Now you can meet, up-close and personal, the fly that has taken the currentseams community by storm: the Hare and Copper variant.

I first saw the Hare and Copper in the Spring 2012 issue of Fly Tyer, in a piece written by George Daniel called “Confidence Flies.” The original calls for a Knapek Nymph Hook, red wire, Dark Pardo Coq de Leon tail, black tungsten bead, and an entire body of dark brown SLF Squirrel dubbing. You can see below how I modified it to suit my tastes. This is really nothing more than a slightly souped-up cross between a Pheasant Tail and a Hare’s Ear. No wonder trout like it. A fine addition to your fuzzy nymph stash.

Hare and Copper Nymph variant

Hook: 2x strong, 2x short scud, size 10-16

Thread: Red 6/0

Bead: Copper, to match hook size

Tail: Pheasant tail fibers

Abdomen: Dark hare’s ear

Rib: Copper

Thorax: SLF Red Fox Squirrel Thorax

In other news, I just got back from a steelheading trip. Details to come soon.

4 comments on “Hare and Copper nymph variant (AKA that fly everyone has been asking about)”

Alton Blodgett says:

November 16, 2015 at 7:01 am

Thanks Steve,
A picture is worth 1,000 words…or something like that.
Alton

Farmington River Report 3/16/16: Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin’ alive. « currentseams says:

March 16, 2016 at 6:30 pm

[…] my fish today came on the top dropper, a size 14 Hare-and-Copper variant (you can see the fly here). This was my second Survivor Strain and the last fish of the day. No mistaking the takes today, as […]

Farmington River Report 5/29/19: Nymph them up « currentseams says:

May 30, 2019 at 8:41 pm

[…] Men at work: Sam getting it done with a tight line presentation. His reward was a lovely wild brown that came on a size 14 Hare and Copper. […]

The best winter nymph patterns are the ones that inspire confidence « currentseams says:

December 11, 2019 at 7:03 pm

[…] Hare and Copper Variant. What’s there not to like about Pheasant Tail, Red Fox Squirrel, and Hare’s ear? Oh, and there’s a copper bead, too. Sign me up! […]