Wolfe's St. Joe Hopper SBS

[ScottP]

Whole lotta deer hair going on here. Packing foam underhead was Mr. Wolfe's idea; kinda like it. Supposed to be a cutty killer up in Idaho. You can do the spun/clipped body first if you like.

hook - TMC 5212 #6
thread - UTC 140 yellow
tail/body - deer hair spun/clipped
wing - mottled turkey
underhead - packing foam strip
head - deer hair
legs - medium rubber yellow


Part 1

Mash down barb; start thread at eye, cover gap width




clean, stack, measure (hook length) a thick clump of deer hair; tie in, let it spin








trim butts, wrap back to bend




clean, trim a clump of deer hair; 2 soft loops, pull firmly but don't release the hair (for the tail, you want it to stay on top of the hook)






stroke the hair back, pack it

[ScottP]

Part 2


move forward; clean, trim another clump, 2 soft loops and let this one spin






repeat 'till you run out of hook; tie off/trim thread




razor blade the belly






trim to shape




re-start thread, tie in wings (gap width, sprayed with fixative); tips extend a bit past tail

[ScottP]

Part 3

tie in packing foam strip, wrap and tie off






push hair back




pull it around head, tie down, pull tight








knot rubber legs (or not), tie in; whip finish, trim, SHHAN




trim out hair underneath; trim legs, brush a little thinned vinyl cement on the head (improves durability)




all done






Regards,
Scott

[NJTroutbum]

Great SBS! That looks like one durable hopper.