NebraskaToMontana

Thanks for the tips everyone. I got rid of the "underbelly" on the grasshoppers... it was definitely making them float funny. I decided instead to just go with a yellow body. I've been having pretty good luck around here fishing these hoppers and chernobyls I have tied. This is the first flies I have tied that have actually been productive in fishing (I've been tying for just a month or so). It definitely makes it more enjoyable. No big fish yet, but I'm trying again this morning.

This guy caught a record pike on a 5-6 weight around here a few years ago. http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/kalispell-man-lands-record-setting-northern-pike/article_6d096952-5f06-11df-9830-001cc4c002e0.html

Thanks for the tips. That mini hopper looks pretty easy, I'll have to give it a try.

Native to China/Vietnam, giant Dobson Fly. From CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/22/world/asia/giant-insect-china/ Anybody planning on tying a few of these in preparation for an Asian dry fly trip of a lifetime? Hah.

Well, the native westslope cutthroat in the tributaries are less picky than the bows/browns in the big rivers (presentation/size are most important). I'll check out his leg tips, thanks. All of the hoppers around here that I've seen have yellow bellies. I'm my sure how much it matters, but I tried to mimick that. It does float a little funny, so maybe I'll try without that piece.

I've been fly fishing for only 6 months (I started after taking a job in Western Montana) and tying for about a week. I've been tying small nymphs, mostly, but have been catching most of my fish on dry flies. As the weather warms, trout are really hitting the hoppers I have gotten from the local fly shops. Thus, I have been trying to tie my own hopper. This is my first decent attempt. I used some Montana Fly Company pre-fab legs for this one, as my hand tied legs are looking pretty awful for now. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks