Bodkin / Patterns

Keller's Henneberry Hopper

Terrestrial · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL-3XL dry-fly / hopper hook (e.g. TMC 5212), 8-12
  • Thread Tan 6/0 (140 denier)

Materials

  • Closed-cell foam sheet Tan (or grey/purple variant) closed cell foam sheet (2mm strip)
  • Superfine / synthetic dubbing Tan dubbing (underbody pinch)
  • Barred round rubber legs Tan and red, black-barred rubber legs (2 pairs)
  • Micro tubing Clear and red micro tubing (for knotted legs)
  • Elk or deer hair Natural deer hair (wing clump)
  • Web wing / medallion sheeting Mottled tan thin skin turkey (underwing)
  • Foam indicator Pink or orange foam (small tab)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and dub a thin tan underbody along the shank so the foam has something to grab.
  2. Bind a 2mm tan foam strip down at the bend, then advance the thread forward and segment the foam to the body by taking tight thread wraps at 2-3 stations, forming a segmented abdomen and leaving a foam tag over the bend.
  3. Build the knotted rear legs: pull a pair of black-barred red rubber legs through red micro tubing and knot each into a bent 'jumping' leg, then bind one pair in on each side at the rear of the thorax.
  4. Tie in a mottled web-wing underwing over the body, then stack a clump of elk hair over it as the main wing, tips reaching just past the bend; trim the butts flat.
  5. Fold the front of the foam strip forward over the wing butts to form a bullet head and lock it behind the eye, leaving a short foam nub.
  6. Add the front legs, a pair of tan black-barred rubber legs pulled through clear tubing and knotted, one out each side at the head.
  7. Tie a small pink or orange foam indicator tab on top for visibility, whip finish under the head, and cement the thread wraps.

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