Hopper, Hoppers and More Hoppers

By Michael Hatfield

With summer in full swing, mid-day fly fishing can sometimes be a bit slow on our mountain streams.  The hatches that were coming off in the cool morning air are now gone and it is several hours until the sun starts to sink behind the mountains and the evening action begins.  Paying attention to what is fluttering around in the grass on the stream banks can be the key to keeping the bite going.

This time of year grass hoppers are abundant along our mountain streams and they are a welcome meal to a hiding trout.  Hoppers typically are blown into the water by the wind and usually settle on the surface within a couple of feet of the bank.  Since a hopper is significantly larger than most insects in the water this time of year, a trout will travel a bit further from its home to dine on one of the crunchy critters.  “Big bait for big fish” rings true when in comes to hoppers and trout.

A glance through any fly fishing catalog or the fly boxes at your local fly shop will produce many different hopper patterns made in many different sizes and of different materials.  For trout, I like a size 8 or 10 made with deer hair.  Foam bodied hoppers are available, but to me a deer haired body is more realistic.  A “parachute” style pattern with a white or neon colored tuft of yarn on the top is always an advantage if you have trouble seeing your flies.  I typically use a weight forward, floating line with a 3x, 4x or 5x tippet on no shorter than a 7 ½' leader.

Since hoppers live on the land, target your fishing to the zone from about six feet off the bank in.  If you have a run of stream with a lot of pocket water and exposed rocks, cast to all fishy looking areas.  With a hopper, you do not have to worry about the fly hitting the water softly, in fact, it is probably better for it to hit with a thud.  In nature, these guys usually hit the water pretty hard which instantly draws attention from the trout.  To get the best lesson on how to fish your hopper, catch a live one and toss it in the water.  Pay attention to what it does when it first hits the water, then watch to see how much motion it makes and how quickly it moves.  Now imitate that with your retrieve and be ready for an exciting surface strike.  Some of the most aggressive strikes I have ever had from trout have come while fishing a hopper.

If you don’t already have a few hoppers in your fly box, stop by your local fly shop and have them fix you up.

Michael Hatfield lives in Richmond, VA and is a member of the Shelbyville Rod Company’s Pro Staff.  You can reach him through his website at www.threehatsflyfishing.com