Hopper


Fly: Jax Murray, Photograph: Hans Weilenmann

Hook: TMC 2302 Size 10
Thread: Red Polyester
Tail: Flared Elk Hair
Rib: Brown Whiting Cock Hackle Palmered
Body: Dubbed Yellow Acrylic Wool
Underwing: Deer Hair. Tinted Olive
Overwing: Elk Hair swept back from Bullet Head
Legs: Yellow or Brown Leg Rubber

Tying instructions:

  1. Wrap hook shank from eye to over the Barb.

  2. Tie in Elk hair for tail to form an under body on 2/3 of the hook shank and clip Tail to size. 1/8 inch past hook bend. Make sure the tail flares well. This allows it to trap air as a floatation aid.

  3. Tie in Body Hackle Butt first Dull Side facing eye.

  4. Dub body with Acrylic Wool Dubbing. Stop 1/3 short of the eye.

  5. Palmer Body Hackle forward and tie off.

  6. Select a tuft of Olive tinted Deer Hair and Stack in stacker.

  7. Tie Deer Hair in on top of shank at point that the body stopped. Allow wing to extend slightly 1/8 inch Past Tail.

  8. Select a tuft of Natural Elk Hair and stack. Allow enough length to tie in Butt first behind the eye and have enough material overhanging the eye to be able to fold back toward the bend, half of the body length.

  9. Tie the Elk Hair in securely and trim the excess so that you get a neat even section of thread between the eye and the start of the body. Leave the thread hanging about 3/16 inch back from the eye.

  10. Stroke the Elk Hair extended past the eye back toward the bend keeping the hair away from the underside of the hook and catch with a few Tight turns on thread where the thread was left hanging.

  11. Catch two rubber legs on top of the head in the groove formed by forming the head, and then slide each one down to the centre line on each side of the head. Position the legs with the rear part of the leg longer than the front part.

  12. Tie Off and Whip Finish in the groove just behind the head.

  13. Apply head cement to the thread and the head in front of the whip finish.

Reports Have it this hopper is definitely a top menu item in the mind most Trout and is accepted with little hesitation.

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© 2005 Hans Weilenmann
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