Troth Bullethead MacHopper SBS

[ScottP]

Macrame yarn - tripping back to the 70's, although I can't see Al Troth in a lime green leisure suit (with white belt & shoes). Didn't have to strip down a hanging terrarium for the yarn, but only had yellow, hence the hopper; if it had been orange, this would have been a MacSalmon. Original had spun/clipped head but bulletheads are easier and I'm lazy; tie as you see fit.



hook - Dai Riki 280 #6
thread - UTC 140 tan
body- macrame yarn yellow
underwing - landscape fabric
wing - deer hair yellow
legs - rubber medium cornsnake
indicator - 2mm foam
head - elk

Part 1


melt the end of a piece of macrame yarn






poke the hook eye into the bottom of the yarn and push 'till it comes out the front






slide the yarn to the back while you build the head; start thread




clean, stack a substantial clump of elk; measure for length (shank)

[ScottP]

Part 2


trim the butts, a couple soft loops and then pull firmly, letting the hair spin around the shank










trim butts




slide yarn against hair butts, brush on a little Super Glue and wrap down




trim underwing (hook gap wide) to shape and tie in

[ScottP]

Part 3

clean, stack, measure a clump of hair for wing; trim butts and tie in






push the head hair back over the fly; cinch it all down with a few firm wraps






Add legs, foam indicator (missed that pic somehow), whip, SHHAN; trim out the bottom






Thanks Al




Regards,
Scott

[Uncle Jesse]

I like that pattern and you did your usual good job with the step by step. Now I have to see if I have any yarn I can use.

[ducksterman]

It has interested me that most salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) flies are tied with an orange body when those in nature have a more brownish color with orange between the segments....guess the fish don't really care.

[ScottP]

It has interested me that most salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) flies are tied with an orange body when those in nature have a more brownish color with orange between the segments....guess the fish don't really care.

Duck,

Very true





Had good luck with Rogues tied with rust-colored foam and orange thread for segmentation

before



after




Where I was fishing, the water was chugging along at a pretty good clip, and I don't think the fish get more than a quick glance at the fly before they decide whether to go for it or not, so an orange fly might not scare them off; unlike a tailwater/spring creek where they can count the jugal and claval folds on the posterior margin of a PMD's wing (and yes, I had to look up those terms).


Regards,
Scott