Bodkin / Patterns

Bullet Head Hopper

Terrestrial · Trout · Advanced · 5 versions

As tied by Savage Flies

  • Hook 3X long curve shank, 8-10
  • Thread any (purple in video)

Materials

  • Body 3mm foam, any colour, in three segments
  • Underbody Crystal flash (three strands folded over)
  • Wing and head Natural deer hair
  • Legs Rubber, any colour (transcript says silly legs)
  • Body 3mm foam, any color

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base to where the rear of the body will be.
  2. Catch in a strip of 3mm foam about a hook gap long at the back, with a pinch wrap and several wraps in front of and under it so it does not spin.
  3. Pull the foam up to make a shorter second segment and pinch it, then do the same for a third, front segment; everything in front is the deer hair head and legs.
  4. Trim the front foam short, leaving a small nub to bury.
  5. Stack a medium clump of deer hair, tips forward, measured to about the body length, and tie it in behind the eye with loose wraps so it flares.
  6. Trim the butt ends close and cover the area with thread wraps in the body colour.
  7. Tie in three strands of Crystal Flash, folded over, on top and trim to about body length.
  8. Gather the deer hair back and bind it with several wraps to form the bullet head and collar, checking the tippet will still pass through the eye.
  9. Fold a strand of leg material and tie it in so a leg comes off each side.
  10. Whip finish, then trim the legs, stray deer hair from the underside and any excess rear foam; add a drop of UV resin to the head thread wraps.

Other versions

4 more in the app: Extended-body foam version, as tied by House Of Fly, Congo-hair version, as tied by Paul Johnson, Antron-body version, tied by John Wolter (Erik Moncada channel), Elk-hair version, as tied by Jerome Coviello.

Tying videos

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