H+F Hopper SBS

[ScottP]

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




tie in CH




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






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






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




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




repeat underneath

[ScottP]

Part 2

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




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






shape head with scissors, thin out collar



semi dorsal



quasi ventral




Regards,
Scott

[ScottP]

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.










Regards,
Scott

[martinwestbeek]

very nice, esp the leggy pattern!

[tedshuck]

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

[ScottP]

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


Regards,
Scott

[tedshuck]

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

[lastchance]

Scott, does Congo hair float well?

[tedshuck]

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

[ScottP]

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