Perfect Hopper

Imitates grasshoppers. For more on this pattern, see the article The Perfect Hopper.

Good colors are tan, olive, brown, and black. Size can vary with season. For example, in July, size 12-14 patterns can work well because juvenile hoppers are poor fliers and often land in the water. Further, most anglers aren't fishing a hopper pattern at that time (or at least a hopper of the right size) and trout are not jaded by a superfluity of imitations.

Dress the head and body with floatant and use tttstandard dry fly standard dry fly tactics.

1. De-barb hook, place in vise, and start thread.

2. Tie in ribbing.

3. Wrap dubbing from rear to head.

4. Wrap ribbing to head. Clip short.

5. Tie in turkey tail wing.

6. Knot legs, then tie in at head.

7. Spin deer hair head. Clip as shown, leaving a few hairs sticking out to the rear.