Parachute Hopper SBS

All about flies Fly Tying
1

hook - Dai Riki 320 #12
thread - UTC 140 tan
body - dubbing hare’s ear
rib - Uni-stretch brown
wing - landscape fabric
post - Congo Hair white
hackle - grizzly
legs - pheasant tail (knotted)

A not entirely organic version of the Schroeder Parachute Hopper - Congo Hair instead of calf body/tail post (less bulk at tie-in) and landscape fabric instead of turkey quill wing (more durable). A low floater and really effective in smaller sizes (#12-16); another change-of-pace fly for fish that see a lot of foam creations.

Part 1

mash down barb and attach thread at 70% mark

take a clump of Congo Hair

put it underneath the hook and pull up

wrap around base to lock in

and up to create post

brush on a bit of Sally

prep hackle (upsize by 1) and tie in on post, shiny side out (fibers will “cup” up)

move thread towards bend, tie in ribbing, wrap back to point above hook bend

apply dubbing

2

Part 2

wrap a tapered body up to post

spiral ribbing forward

round over end of wing (hook gap width)

apply a spot of Super Glue and tie in wing

knot some pheasant tail fibers (make 2; reverse the direction for the other leg so they splay away from each other)

tie in near

and far

trim butts and smooth head with thread wraps

apply a bit more dubbing and apply to head; finish with thread at base of post

start hackle at top of thread post

3

Part 3

wrap hackle down post (8 wraps from this feather) and let it hang down

trap hackle with 2 thread wraps at base of post

half hitch x 2 at eye, SHHAN, trim post (hook shank length), trim legs, go fish

Regards,
Scott

4

Scott,
Awesome SBS as usual. Your skills are great and you have provided lots of great infromation. One question - where do you get your landscape cloth in brown? Can only find black!

Happy Trails
Mark

5

Mark,

Thanks. Got the fabric from a local nursery; don’t think they carry it at the big box stores, the only stuff I’ve seen there is the perforated plastic kind which is too soft for me.

Regards,
Scott

6

Thanks Scott.

Happy Trails
Mark

7

like the fly, have a couple of questions.

How does that landscape fabric float? does it absorb water?

To you fish this as a floater/in the film, or as a drowned hopper? seems like that rabbit hare >:) would soak water and sink without help?

8

good question; I’m not sure, but if it does absorb any water, it’s not much

both; in the film (I usually use this, a Henry’s Fork or Letort hopper if the fish are being picky) and as a sunken hopper after the floatant wears off (you’re right, they need some help to stay on top) and before I switch to a dry one

Regards,
Scott