In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Charlie Craven ties a hopper pattern that trout won’t be able to refuse this summer, the Boy Wonder Hopper.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Intermediate
With summer fishing here, anglers can rejoice while leaving waders and nymph boxes at home. Dry flies and foam hoppers should be on the mind this time of year, where large hatches continue on rivers and hoppers begin to enter the mix. One of the most classic aspects of fly fishing is a trout inhaling a dry fly on top and thankfully, this is just the time for it. As fish begin to look up, the Boy Wonder Hopper is one to keep in your summer box for trout that want to put on a show.
In terms of difficulty, this one will be easiest tied by semi-expert and above tyers. Although no steps are necessarily harder than other hopper patterns, this fly combines foam work and naturals while attempting to build a good profile which can become overwhelming. For more novice tyers, the Chubby Chernobyl is a fantastic pattern to get into working with foam in order to be more comfortable to tie the Boy Wonder Hopper efficiently.
This fly will often be fished best on a 5/6 weight paired with a floating line and tippets between 3-5x. Whether fished alone, in a dry dropper, or double dry rig, this pattern will sit on top. Adding floatant to this fly will allow the wings to stay dry and more buoyant which is important in matching the hatch. Enjoy the summer season that is finally upon us and fish the Boy Wonder Hopper if you want to fool some trout looking up.
Ingredients:
- Hook: #08 Tiemco 100SP-BL or Tiemco 100
- Thread: Tan 3/0 Monocord
- Body: Tan 3MM Foam
- Glue: Zap-A-Gap
- Wing1: Poly Macrame Yarn Blend
- Hot Spot: Pink Deer Hair
- Legs: Gold Amber Black Fly Enhancer Legs
- Wing2: Whitetail or Regular Deer Hair
Now you know how to tie the Boy Wonder Hopper!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Charlie’s Fly Box.
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Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by Max Inchausti
