Sampler 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Anyone interested in posting pictures of your favorite Hopper patterns? Foam, Deer hair, or other. I'm looking for some inspiration for the winter tying season. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Just to throw it out there. What do people class as a hopper pattern?? When I first starter tying hawthorn flies and crane flies were good imitations for where I lived and generally 'hopper' flies covered that floating long legged bug. But what is a hopper pattern meant to be and what is/are the key points to tying a hopper as opposed to a leggy dry?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Piker20, There is a long history of specific grasshopper patterns like Joe's Hopper and Dave's Hopper but since foam an even larger selection has evolved. Almost any major fly retailer will have several imitations among their inventory Usually, a yellow Trude, or Humpy or Yellow Stimulator will imitate the majority of hoppers we see in Wyoming, having a similar profile and coloration. We also had a local pattern known as a Rummy's Dummy that was basically tied like the traditional Yellow Grayback. Yellow Double Humpy very popular on Snake River in Western Wyo. Simple and durable is premium because the fish just pound them when keying on land dwelling bugs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Here are few from my archives, Sampler. If you run a Google Images search - Dave's Hopper Fly Pattern- there are many variant's shown. Have fun, I may have to tie up a Rummy's Dummy for old times sake, it is simple and one of the first things I learned to tie back in the early days. Worked well on the Sweetwater River browns and Little Wind River cutthroats. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Ah of course grass hoppers. In the UK a typical hopper would find itself grouped with crane flies and looks like a heavy hackled wet fly with knotted pheasant tail legs. I'll add a link when near a computer, haven't figured how smart phones do that yet. UK ones tend not to be anything like as big as the foam and deer hair US ones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sampler 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Thanks for the responses so far. Always inspired by a nice looking fly I am looking to fill my boxes early this year. Piker20- I would like to see your crane posted feel free to post away. Creativity it's a great thing. Joe's hopper and Dave's hopper have always been a favorite of mine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sampler 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 A yellow humpy size 14-16 has always been a staple in my fly box. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phg 0 Report post Posted December 8, 2013 Chernobyl Ant is another good foam hopper. Piker, our grasshoppers and locusts often run between 2" and 3" long. A big mouthful for a hungry fish. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sampler 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 Check out this sexy guy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrequentTyer 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 My personal favorite is a stimulator with legs. I also like the Letort hopper. It's a personal thing but I just hate foam in trout flies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 A.K. Best Hopper. Combines the best parts of the Joe's Hopper, Letort Hopper and Whitlock Hopper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tidewaterfly 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 I like some of the foam patterns. Even stonefly patterns often make good hopper imitations. In the past, and because I primarily use them for bass, these simple cork bodied sliders worked well as Hoppers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 Confession time: I have frequently fished a live grasshopper on a bare #12 hook. When I could catch some, I just hooked from top of thorax into the chest plate, then cast downstream at 90-45 degree angle, stripping out a lot of slack and trying to keep control of about 9 feet of line if strike occurred. Usually, when the little beasts were kicking their little legs and splashing about, they did not survive to the end of the drift. When they did survive to the end of drift, I still caught many fish stripping the line back -about one foot increments. Once caught a big golden trout on a Joe's Hopper, in Wind River range, in a glacial lake about 1/2 mile above the timberline, there wasn't a real hopper within 5 miles of the place. I think there is something instinctual bored into the trout's brain and hoppers rule in moving water in August. Good luck with tying and fishing these patterns-many very cool and innovative, thanks for putting up the topic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crotalus 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 I like the "Club Sandwich" style and the chernobyls. also like a smaller black version to imitate crickets But my favorite is the JS Foamie on my site, worked all summer long in various colors on panfish, smallmouth and largemouth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2013 Morrish hopper. I should have used a wider gap hook. Gets lots of hits but I also miss a lot. I'm going to cut off the body and use a larger hook. http://hopperfishing.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/how-to-tie-the-morrishs-hopper/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites