PCE Hopper
This pattern is based on Hans Weilenmann’s PCE (partridge caddis emerger). To that pattern, I added a tail, rubber legs and a high visibility post. The pattern is intended to be a low riding, high floating and high visibility imitation of a small grasshopper/medium stonefly/large caddis. This fly works well as an attractor dry in free stone streams and as an indicator when fished in combination with a nymph.
One trick that helps in tying is to slide a short length of plastic soda straw over the bobbin before attaching the thread to the hook. Then, after tying in and dubbing through the legs, slide the straw up the thread and over the hook shank to hold the wing and rubber legs out of the way when wrapping the hackle and finishing the fly on the post.