In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Charlie Craven with Charlie’s Fly Box ties a hopper pattern that every angler should be getting excited for warmer months ahead with, the Letort Hopper.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Although we may be full swing into winter, there’s no harm in picturing warmer days of both past and future. Imagine a sunny, summer day where you find the river all to yourself and trout eagerly looking up. That is just one of the images I’ve collected in the memory bank over the years and one that gets me through the coldest days and most difficult time of year to fish. To create memories that last a lifetime you need to be prepared with the right gear on the water. The Letort Hopper is a fly and essential piece of gear that during summer months will set you up for some of the most exciting fishing you’ll find all year.
When tying hoppers with natural materials, taking your time is your best bet for creating the proper profile. One slip of your razor blade when trimming the excess fibers can revert progress back to step one, so being methodical and calculated as you shape your body is crucial. Once you become comfortable working with deer hair, it can truly become your best friend and will allow you to tie some of the most beautiful flies out there today. Not only will the Letort Hopper look good to you on the vise, but trout find it an attractive option as well as they look upward.
Pairing this pattern with your favorite dry fly rod and leader will set you up for success. You won’t need any special gear to fish this fly effectively, just a simple floating line setup and a tapered 9ft leader. Don’t forget to bring your favorite floatant to ensure maximum buoyancy despite deer hair being able to do the job just fine on its own. The coldest days of winter offer a special opportunity to tie flies you can envision future success with and the Letort Hopper is worth every second and ounce of patience this tying season.
Ingredients:
- Thread: Yellow Danville 3/0
- Body: Pale Yellow Superfine Dubbing
- Wing: Mottled Ozark Turkey Wing
- Head: Natural Deer Hair
- Blade: Double Edge Razor Blade
Now you know how to tie the Letort Hopper!
Video courtesy of Charlie’s Fly Box.
