Come summertime, some of the most exciting fishing of the year starts, when clumsy grasshoppers take flight and trout take notice. The thump of a big grasshopper hitting the water is like a siren song to hungry fish, and they're typically gobbled up in seconds. The takes are reactive and aggressive, providing anglers with a very visual style of fly fishing as trout explode on top-water foam flies.Â
Before we provide our favorites, lets quickly touch on the basics of what makes a great hopper pattern:
Hoppers should land hook down every time. If its landing on its side, or worse, upside down, you're not going to find much success. This isn't going to happen on most professional-grade flies, but its worth noting.Â
Secondly, profile is key. When a fish feeds on a hopper, they are generally reacting to the splash of the hopper hitting the water and a quick look at its profile. If the fishing is really good, the profile factor might not be as important, hence why flies like a Chubby remain effective despite having a fairly basic composition. However, as the season wears on, fish are learning the error of their ways, and might eye your fly, its movement, and its drift for a couple more seconds before committing. A realistic profile means having a tapered abdomen, well-placed and sizable hind legs, a smaller mid-section, a distinguished head, and plenty of flutter in the legs. Some flies take it a step further with segmentation and the addition of various wing materials, but the most important element to focus on is the proportions of the body and its silhouette from beneath.Â
Finally, a hopper should be "meaty," and float without issue. As mentioned, a clumsy hopper flying into the river is not going to land gracefully, and they're generally eaten long before drowning. You also want to be able to tie on a dropper without impacting floatation so you can capitalize on fish feeding on the top as well as subsurface.
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1. Morrish HopperÂ
Some might say we don't need to go any further than the Morrish Hopper -- Easily one of the most effective terrestrial patterns ever created. The fly is not overly complicated, but its profile is everything you're looking for in a good hopper. The foam abdomen was originally trimmed with a razor blade to give it its realistic shape, and the head is trimmed as well to complete a very lifelike hopper. Additionally, the knotted legs are very realistic and perfectly placed. The fly does lack a wing, but the orange foam on the body makes for easy tracking in faster water.
2. Hennebery Hopper
Kris Keller's Henneberry Hopper is one of the most realistic hoppers on the market and quickly became a local favorite here in Montana. The abdomen goes a step further than the Morrish Hopper, not only tapering the abdomen down, but also rounding the edges to give it a hyper-realistic cone shape. The markings on the fly also give it a super natural appearance, and make it one of our go-to hoppers all season, but especially when water levels are lower and trout have wisened up.Â
3. Thunder Thighs
The thunder thighs pattern has been around for some time and continues to be a staple pattern. Its greatest strengths are its profile, as well as all of the natural movement offered by its rubber legs. Also, between the foam and the big poly wing, you aren't drowning this pattern, nor losing sight of it in turbid conditions. The thunder thighs in smaller sizes are a great option for picky fish or low-water conditions.Â
4. Juicy Hopper
RIO's Juicy Hopper sports a nicely tapered abdomen, super natural looking appendages, and a pair of antennae that give it a great profile under water. The Juicy Hopper comes in several colors and a range of sizes from 4 to 12, giving anglers plenty of options throughout terrestrial season. The larger sizes are great for making a sizable splash, while the fly's design ensures it lands hook down every time.Â
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5. More or Less Hopper
The More or Less Hopper is a testament that hoppers don't need to be overdone. Too often fly designers are looking to reinvent the wheel, but the More or Less sports a great profile, is highly durable, and floats like a cork. It also has a pair of life-like eyes that sells it to us anglers, and the fish too.Â
6. Dave's Hopper
Created by the one and only Dave Whitlock, Dave's Hopper is an old-school hopper that has delivered for decades. The fly does not contain foam, but instead relies on mostly natural materials for its bouyancy and profile. Knotted pheasant tail fibers create the legs, turkey quill forms a pair of wings, and the head is shaped out of spun deer hair. If you prefer more "natural" flies, this is the hopper you should be reaching for.Â
7. Sweetgrass Hopper
The Sweetgrass Hopper, designed by Doug McKnight, is a hyper-realistic and virtually unsinkable hopper pattern. The fly floats high and is nearly impossible to lose track off, especially with the addition of a synthetic wing. This is a great option fished on its own, especially in bigger water, but it also holds most any dropper with ease.
8. Rainy's Grand Hopper
An older fly, Rainy's Grand Hopper has been a staple on U.S. West's rivers for a long time, and it continues to deliver. The fly is not overly-dressy, but relies on the fundamentals of any good hopper pattern, and was one of the first to utilize foam. The Grand Hopper can also used as a mutant stonefly on the Yellowstone and South Fork of the Snake because it moves/chugs water.
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Honorable Mention:Â
The Chubby
We'd catch some flack if we didn't mention The Chubby - one of the most popular trout flies ever. They come in a smorgasbord of colors and sizes, and can imitate a big hopper, stonefly, or even a beetle or ant in the micro sizes. The fly's big, oversized wing means its not going missing on any river, and it can carry any heavy dropper you throw at it. Is it as dialed as some other hopper imitations? No -- but it definitely catches fish.Â
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