Don’t know if Mr. Whitlock came up with this adaptation of his hopper or someone who wouldn’t, or couldn’t, spin deer hair. Pretty much a Stimi with a modified back end.
hook -Dai Riki 280 #8
thread - UTC 140 cream
rib - x-small wire gold
tail - calftail red
egg sac/body - Congo Hair pale yellow
body hackle - dark ginger (undersize by 2)
wing - yearling elk
hackle - ginger/grizzly
I highly doubt that Dave did this variation more because of the lack of hopper legs than the change from spun hair and it does seem closer to a Joe’s Hopper in appearance to me. I’ve seen Dave’s hopper boxes and they are filled with the most varied selection of hoppers with very subtle changes in the over all coloration. Dave loves hopper fishing as he refers to it as hoppertunities.
