H+F Hopper SBS

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8526b1a3.jpg

I think the H+F stands for Hair and Foam; the polypropylene yarn was omitted. Apparently the creator (?) was into the whole brevity thing. Few moving parts, floats like a cork; change color/sizes to suit your needs


hook - Dai Riki 320 #12
thread - UTC 140 tan
butt/body - Congo Hair Honey Mustard
wing - 2mm foam tan
head/collar - deer hair


Part 1

mash barb; start thread at 2/3 mark

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psada3cdde.jpg


tie in CH

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4451d789.jpg


twist CH to create loop, tie down; wrap forward (maintain twist) to create body, tie off/trim

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psd0d76030.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psa71c8967.jpg


taper foam strip (gap width) and tie in (extend to end of butt)

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps09c51548.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psb8e8deca.jpg


clean, stack, measure (tips to end of butt) a clump of deer hair

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8306a4ba.jpg


tie in with 2 soft loops; apply tension, allow it to roll over the top (but not spin) and butts to flare

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps94a3401d.jpg


repeat underneath

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7ec6e8a8.jpg

Part 2

pull foam strip up, prop with thread wraps, half hitch x 2, SHHAN

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psd1709974.jpg


hold foam up, use razor blade to establish top of head; repeat on bottom

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps33bf2870.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps618235df.jpg


shape head with scissors, thin out collar

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8526b1a3.jpg

semi dorsal

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9114246e.jpg

quasi ventral

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps786fd601.jpg


Regards,
Scott

Don't know why I never thought of adding legs before; pretty simple mod. One pattern is never a cure-all but, for whatever reason, this one got a lot of looks; most of the hoppers I saw that day were smaller/chunky so maybe that's why. The foam butt? just because you can never have enough.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6jexoiwv.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pspdl6yrt6.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6mwkjwba.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pskyp3ptyv.jpg


Regards,
Scott

very nice, esp the leggy pattern!

Scott,
Thanks for posting this one. I was thinking about tying some hoppers and wanted a quick easy pattern that didn't involve gluing foam. Just tied half a dozen and I like them. Hope the fish do!
Thanks,
Ted

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psayxqugmo.jpg


http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9ooq4vqs.jpg


http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psrhn7my1q.jpg


Just noodling around with some different colors/materials; a few more mods and it could make a passable October Caddis.


Regards,
Scott

Scott,

I had a great day with these hoppers on the South Platte today. The fish couldn't resist them, but had bad aim when trying to eat them about 2/3 of the time. I need to tie up some more. Thanks for the great pattern!

Ted

Scott, does Congo hair float well?

I'm not Scott, but I do have some experience with the float properties of congo hair. In my experience, it does not float as well as foam (what does?), but it floats better than most synthetics. I think it is a polypro yarn, so it does not absorb water. I use some gel floatant on it and the only problem I have had is when a fish slimes the fly pretty badly and keeps it dunked for a while.

Ted

Ted,

We've had pretty much the same experience with the Congo Hair; floats pretty well. Glad to hear the fly's been working well for you. I've been playing around with Carnage flies all summer and haven't fished them; next time out they're batting lead off.
Also, don't know where this pattern originated, but many thanks to whoever came up with it.


Regards,
Scott