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Let's Talk Hoppers
#12386574
08/15/17 12:55 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J-Moe
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TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541 |
There is a huge number of grasshoppers in the area. The bass, sunfish and bluegill in the creeks have really keyed in on these and has made for some fun fishing.
Size 12 has been the perfect size to use for the bluegill and sunfish. I started by tying size 8 but had to size down to get a good hook set. The problem, as normal for me, is that more and more of them land upside down or on their side.
I found that the stonefly pattern has been working just as well as the hopper pattern but with better stability so I bought a size 12 stonefly cutter. Same results though, just hit or miss.
I am using different combinations of double heavy nymph hooks, double heavy double wide hooks, standard hobby lobby foam, silly legs, medium rubber legs. For the wings either a small combination of deer hair and gold flash, thin skin wing material and gold flash or no wing at all.
Which hopper patterns do y'all use for small sunfish? What do y'all do to help keep your hoppers upright and floating properly?
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12386594
08/15/17 01:17 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 828
mbarker68x
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 828 |
I use these ones, my pictures are gone due to photo bucket issues but there are a few others and tying videos as well. I haven't noticed the issue of landing n the side or upside down. Generally tie them in size 10 and 12. http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...en#Post12170265
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12386668
08/15/17 02:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239
rrhyne56
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239 |
Another that I have had success with is Pete's Gurgle PopIt isn't 100% hopper, but is close enough for gov't work. The fish like it too.
"have fun with this stuff" in memory of Big Dale RRhyne56, Flyfishing warden
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12386723
08/15/17 03:03 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8,475
Smurfs
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
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Posts: 8,475 |
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12387385
08/15/17 11:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238
RexW
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238 |
What do y'all do to help keep your hoppers upright and floating properly? Adding some standard dry fly floatant to the foam helps keep it top side up.
Fly Fishers International certified casting instructor TFO Rods pro staff
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12387653
08/16/17 02:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 415
Riverdog
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 415 |
Joe
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12387805
08/16/17 04:29 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,067
McKinneyLonghorn
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,067 |
I pretty much use a Llano Bug in sizes 6-12 for most of my hopper fishing. They pretty much land the right side up every cast and I have caught sunfish up to 2 pound bass on them. I typically use them in yellow and brown, but other colors seem to work as well so I am not sure color is really that important.
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12387970
08/16/17 12:57 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J-Moe
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TFF Team Angler
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541 |
Thanks for the input. I have been tying the mini-hopper and it lands properly as well. I keep working on the standard hopper or stonefly with 6 legs though. I did notice that some of the hoppers land properly until they get wet so maybe coating them with nail polish or using floatant per Rex's comments will help.
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: mbarker68x]
#12388800
08/16/17 11:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J-Moe
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TFF Team Angler
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541 |
I watched this video and one of the first points he made was to stop the thread / tie in location at the point of the hook. Allowing for more of the hook to be exposed and create leverage for the fly to float properly, even with heavy foam on top of the hook. I've been tying them in further back past the barb sometimes so that is likely one of my problems.
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Re: Let's Talk Hoppers
[Re: J-Moe]
#12408429
08/31/17 04:55 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541 |
I continued to work on a standard hopper pattern. I can consistently get one to land properly without a wing but not with a wing so I kind of got bored with it for now. I tied up a couple of the Llano Bugs you suggested McKinney Longhorn, Thanks (Gig'em). I tied one in brown and one in chartreuse. I started with the brown one with little response. I fished with a briminator for a while and was catching a few greenies so I decided to try the chartreuse. It worked like like a charm. I caught greenies, redear and a couple bass fishing in 2 different ponds with the pattern. It is almost the same as the mini-hopper I tie except it has 8 legs instead of 4. I used chartreuse foam, deer hair, silly legs and flash. I used Chartruese / Pearl sparkle braid for the body. That helped to reduce the overall size of the fly and on this day it was obvious they wanted a more flashy pattern over a natural one.
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