Bodkin / Patterns

Pettine's Wet Hopper

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

• Hook 2XL nymph/wet hook, 8-12
• Thread tan 6/0

Materials

• Dubbing (body) Tan/gold dubbing (as needed)
• Turkey tail or pheasant (folded wing) Mottled pheasant tail or turkey (1 section)
• Rubber legs Barred tan rubber legs (2 pairs)
• Hen hackle Brown hen hackle (1)
• Fine wire rib Gold wire (1 strand)

How to tie it

1. Start thread and bind a fine gold wire at the bend for the rib.
2. Dub a fat, slightly tapered hopper body forward to the 70% mark.
3. Counter-wrap the wire forward in 5-6 open turns to segment and protect the body, then tie off.
4. Knot a barred rubber leg on each side so the kicker legs trail alongside the body.
5. Fold a mottled turkey section flat over the back as a tent wing reaching to the bend, tie down at the front.
6. Wrap two or three turns of soft brown hen hackle as a collar and sweep the fibers back, whip finish, snip, and add head cement.

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