Hoppers, or grasshoppers, are part of a collection of insects we fly fishers often refer to as ‘terrestrials’. Terrestrials are basically any insect that doesn’t have an aquatic life stage that can be a food item for trout, or other fish species we can target on fly gear. The life cycle of the grasshopper occurs entirely on land and you can see how this works in the video below.
Hoppers have had, arguably, the largest influence on fly fishing of all the terrestrial insects we like to mimic in order to catch fish. They have many benefits to both the fly angler, and the fish. As far as we fisherfolk are concerned, hoppers are big, high floating, easy to see imitations as they float down rivers. They are usually super buoyant and perfect to fish in bouldery pocket water and riffles where other dry flies might sink. One of the greatest fly fishing stories ever written features grasshoppers – Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Big Two Hearted River’ features an angler catching trout on hoppers using fly gear (technically not hopper ‘patterns’ but real grasshoppers, but it is truly a wonderful read).
Hopper imitations are usually made of highly buoyant closed cell foam or deer hair and are often perfect to fish on their own, or in conjunction with a subsurface nymph imitation in what is usually known as a ‘hopper dropper’ combination. This setup is a great way to prospect water as it allows the angler to see if fish are interested in subsurface or surface patterns.
Fish love grasshoppers – probably because they are such a large, meaty meal for a fish, full of energy and are easy targets when they fall helplessly into rivers. Fish can be targeted close to riverbanks where grasses grow or overhang the river, usually in late summer when the dried grasses attract countless numbers of hoppers, which occasionally fall into the water, making easy prey for the trout. Dry, windy days on rivers that flow through grasslands are often perfect for fishing hoppers, and every serious freshwater fly angler should have a few patterns in their fly box. Tying hopper patterns can be rewarding as well, and they can be as simple as a wedge-shaped block of foam with some rubber legs, through to highly complex patterns requiring a lot time, materials and patience to perfect.
If you are ready for some fun fishing in the late summer or early fall, maybe you should try fishing some hoppers!
Take a look at the video (below) to see how awesome hopper fishing can be!
Video Credit: Catch Magazine
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