The May �Fly of the Month Challenge� will be another foam hopper pattern; the �Pink Pookie�.

I know, I know� It�s a stupid name, but it is still a good fly.

This is another fly pattern that was developed in the Yellowstone region for trout, but it performs very well as a warm water pattern.

The Pink Pookie is similar to last month�s GFA hopper, but I like this pattern better. The GFA hopper is a less complicated fly to tie, but those tying techniques are used to tie the Pink Pookie pattern along with some additional techniques. It may have more tying steps, but if you can tie the GFA, then you can tie the Pink Pookie. And, if you can tie both of these patterns then you�ll be able to tie pretty much all of the various foam hopper patterns that are out there.

I am including both a written step by step and a video of how to tie this pattern. Please note that foam cutters were used in both of these examples, but they are not required. The step by step article shows an example of how to make the foam bodies with scissors.


Here�s the link to the written step by step instructions:

https://hopperfishing.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/how-to-tie-the-pink-pookie-hopper/


Here�s a video link showing how this fly is tied, by the originator�s daughter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKs0QoZ7Icw


Here�s my example of the May challenge fly the �Pink Pookie�:

(Note: I tied this example using the traditional pink body, but if you switch to a lighter yellow foam, it makes a great imitation of those big yellow bellied grasshoppers that come out in Texas during the summer.)




The �Fly of the Month Challenge� is open to everyone. All you have to do to participate is tie an example of this month�s fly pattern and post a picture of it. The goal is encourage everyone to tie something you may not have tied before and maybe even learn something new.

Head�s up on June�s fly pattern. Let�s switch gears and start thinking about our summer trout fishing vacations (whether or not we�ll actually get to go or not ). June�s fly of the month challenge will be an emerger pattern.

I'm in again this month, I don't think I have the pink foam, but I'll come up with some or go with something close.

Nice choice on the fly pattern! Didn't have any pink foam so I took your advice and tied it in yellow. I had never heard of this pattern but I really like how it turned out. As you said, this pattern is really easy to tie if you can tie a GFA hopper. This one is on a size 8 2XL hook, but I look forward to tying some on a slightly smaller hook so I can go after the smaller sunfish that live in many of the places I fish.




And, as a person who has never tied an emerger, I look forward to the June Fly of the Month.

Nice fly. Thanks for posting.

Thanks. I braved the 25 mph winds and took the size 12 yellow pookie out tonight. Didn't catch anything on it but had a few hits from small sunfish. Ended up catching four fish (bluegill, green sunfish and two largemouth) on a Royal Wulff, which I tied for the first time Friday. It is the most complicated dry fly I have tied so far in terms of number of steps and materials, but I think it turned out alright and it caught fish, so it must look OK from under the water.

Anyone else have a version to share?