Hopper Flies

Grasshoppers are a major late-summer food source for trout, especially on rivers bordered by tall grass and farmland. When they are blown or knocked into the water, their large size and clumsy movement make them easy targets. Hopper patterns imitate this big, high-protein meal, riding high on the surface and triggering aggressive strikes. Fishing hoppers can be as simple as casting close to the bank and letting the current carry them along.