It’s never too early to get ready for summer with a few hoppers. This old pattern continues to be very effective and has an entirely different profile than foam patterns.
Hook: TMC 5262 or 5612, sizes 6 – 12
Thread: Tan 8/0
Post: White calf body
Body: Golden brown Antron dubbing
Wing: Mottled turkey quill feather
Legs: Ringneck Pheasant tail feather
Hackle: Grizzly, barbs 1 1/2 – 2 times hook gap
Thorax: Same as body
- Crimp barb.
- Attach thread behind eye in touching wraps 1/3rd back.
- Cut a small clump of calf body hair from hide. Clean and stack. Lay on shank with tips forward extending 1/2 shank length beyond tie in; securely tie in. Cut butts at an angle; wrap down. Holding upright make many wraps in front to hold upright.
- Dub generous body to within 1/8” of post.
- Treat windings with lacquer or Flexament. Separate section of quill 1/4” wide, cut according to diagram. Place round end to rear of fly, butt up against the post and tie in place.
- Using 6 – 8 Pheasant feather barbs, tie knot in center (tricky, go to web for techniques). Apply Zap-A-Gap to keep fibers together. Tie in one leg on each side behind post according to diagram. Cut excess.
- Prep hackle end with “crew-cut” (diagram). Tie in front of post. Hold upright and tie to base of post.
- Dub generous thorax. Leave thread hanging on your side of shank.
- Make 3 – 4 hackle wraps around base of post. While holding hackle downward, make 3 thread wraps around base of post.
- Tie off behind eye. cut excess hackle
Posted on March 22nd, 2020