Bodkin / Patterns

Panther Creek Hopper

Terrestrial · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL dry-fly/hopper hook, 8-10
  • Thread tan 6/0

Materials

  • 2mm foam, tapered body strip Tan fly tying foam (1 strip)
  • Deer hair Natural deer hair (2 small clumps)
  • Round rubber legs Barred tan rubber legs (2 pairs)
  • Poly yarn (sighter post) Orange poly yarn (small tuft)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base along the shank and stop at the bend.
  2. Bind the narrow rear end of the tapered tan foam strip on top of the shank at the bend, leaving a short stub projecting past the bend as a tail tab.
  3. Advance the thread to the 70% mark in 2-3 open segmenting turns, pull the foam forward over the top, and lash it down at 70% to form a plump segmented body.
  4. Stack a clump of deer hair and tie it in at 70% as an underwing, tips reaching the end of the body.
  5. Knot a pair of barred rubber legs on each side and bind them at 70% so they splay outboard; trim to about one shank length.
  6. Stack a second clump of deer hair, bind it tightly at 70% with tips rearward to the body end, then sweep the butts up and forward and lash them behind the eye to form a tall standing wing-case and bullet head.
  7. Tie in a short tuft of orange poly on top of the head as a sighter post.
  8. Whip finish under the head and add a drop of cement.

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