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SBPatt

Henry's Fork Hopper SBS

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First time I used these were on a trib of the Firehole, loaded with browns hanging among some nice undercut banks. Apparently they were picky that day and wanted something small; all my foam stuff was too big but I had a couple of these and some Letorts in #12 & 14. Both worked well that day and even when the HF's were chewed beyond recognition, they still caught fish. Although I usually prefer foamies, there are times when these just work better, especially in the smaller sizes ( I don't tie these in anything bigger than a #10 because I don't have elk/deer hair long enough). Again, like the Madam X and other bullet head flies, I put the head in first; makes it much easier for me to get the head/body transition point correct and.

 

 

hook - Dai Riki 280 #12

thread - UTC 140 yellow

body - elk or deer hair (cow elk here)

head- same as tail, bullet-head

wing - landscape fabric

legs - rubber medium yellow

indicator - 2mm foam

 

 

 

Mash down barb and attach thread at head (gap width)

 

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cut a clump of elk hair (be generous, you'll want more than you think is necessary); clean, stack and measure for length (shank)

 

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trim the butts, a couple soft loops right at the hook eye and then pull firmly, letting the hair spin around the shank

 

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like this

 

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trim the butt ends

 

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cover hook shank with thread (to control body torque)

 

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cut another, sparser clump of hair; clean, but don't stack and trim tips

 

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brush a little Crazy Glue on hook shank, then tie hair in tip-first at backside of head

 

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wrap back to a point above hook barb, then create smooth underbody

 

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should look something like a Push-me Pull-you

 

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take thread behind the hook, pull up through the hair sticking out the back and make a soft loop (about hook gap length)

 

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pull tight, one more wrap then return thread to hook shank

 

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return thread to body tie-in point

 

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gather deer hair body and pull forward

 

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2 soft wraps

 

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and trim flared butts

 

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create 1st body segment

 

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then 2nd segment and return thread to body tie in

 

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trim wing (hook gap width) to shape and length; original pattern calls for feather (hen saddle or pheasant church work great) coated with head cement and pulled to shape but the landscape fabric looks good and is a lot easier to work with

 

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add a drop of Crazy Glue and tie in wing

 

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push deer hair back with finger (try to make sure it surrounds the head

 

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pull back around body

 

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2 soft loops and pull tight

 

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add leg near

 

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and far

 

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add indicator (these flies sit low to the water and can be tough to see); whip finish and add Sally

 

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trim out hair on bottom

 

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trim legs and indicator and you're done

 

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Regards,

Scott

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Great SBS. Looks like it would make a good dry salmon fly too.

 

Don't think I have any hair long enough for one of those big bugs; gotta go with foam:

 

 

IMG_0146.jpg

 

 

Regards,

Scott

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