Bodkin / Patterns

Grand Hopper

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL dry/terrestrial hook (Daiichi 2220), 6-12
  • Thread Tan 3/0 (210 denier)

Materials

  • Body Tan foam (also yellow or pale olive) (2mm strip)
  • Underwing Orange or pearl material (few strands Krystal Flash)
  • Wing Speckled hen (tape-backed) (1 feather section)
  • Thorax Amber/bright material (rough SLF or goat dubbing)
  • Legs Tan barred rubber legs (2 pairs round silicone rubber)
  • Eyes Black ostrich herl (1 pair burnt mono (optional))

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lay a thread base along the shank.
  2. Tie the tan foam strip in at the bend, leaving a short tab, and bind it forward to segment a body to the 60% mark.
  3. Tie in a few strands of orange flash as an underwing, then lay a tape-backed speckled hen feather flat over the top as the wing, reaching just past the bend.
  4. Dub a rough, bright thorax at the tie-down point.
  5. Figure-8 two pairs of soft silicone legs so they splay off both sides; the soft rubber pulses and keeps trout from dropping it.
  6. Fold the front foam forward into a low head, bind at the eye, and add burnt-mono eyes if desired.
  7. Whip finish under the head and bar the legs with a marker; trim to about one shank length.

Tying videos

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