Hot-Eared Mouse – Mouse Fly for Bass & Big Trout

Bring your surface fishing to life with the ReelFlies® Hot-Eared Mouse. This distinctive mouse fly pattern imitates a small rodent swimming across the water, a tempting mouthful for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and large predatory Brook trout.

Its natural-coloured hair body, shaped head, long tail and fine whiskers create a convincing mouse profile. Bright orange ears give the Hot-Eared Mouse its signature look and help you track the fly as you work it past banks and cover.

Fish it with a slow swimming retrieve, twitch it beside a fallen tree, or swing it across a river current. Whether you’re exploring bass water or searching for a big brook trout, this mouse pattern brings an exciting surface presentation to your fly box.

Why Choose the Hot-Eared Mouse?

• Distinctive orange ears: A bright visual reference to help follow your fly on the water.

• Lifelike mouse profile: A natural-coloured body, detailed face and trailing tail imitate a swimming rodent.

• Versatile presentation: Fish with gentle twitches, a steady retrieve or a controlled surface swing.

• Appeal to predatory fish: A substantial meal-shaped silhouette for bass and larger trout.

Target Species

• Smallmouth bass: Work rocky shorelines, riverbanks, current seams and woody cover.

• Largemouth bass: Fish alongside weed edges, shaded banks, docks and fallen timber.

• Large brook trout: Explore banks, pool edges and quieter water beside the main current.

• Brown and rainbow trout: Try it where larger fish respond to substantial surface prey.

How to Fish It

• Twitch and pause: Cast close to promising cover, let the fly settle, then use short strips with pauses to suggest a struggling mouse.

• Swim it steadily: Retrieve slowly enough to create a gentle surface wake. Experiment with pace until you find what draws a response.

• Swing across the current: Cast across and slightly downstream, then control your line as the mouse swims across a seam or pool tail.

• Explore low-light periods: Try dawn, dusk and shaded stretches, but don’t overlook daytime fishing when conditions favour surface takes.

• Use a suitable leader: A floating line and a short, stout leader help turn over a bulky mouse fly and maintain control during the retrieve.

• Wait for the weight: Resist striking at the splash alone. Keep control of the line and set the hook when you feel the fish take hold.

For anglers who love the anticipation of a surface strike, the Hot-Eared Mouse deserves a place in the fly box.