Flyfishing Hoppers for Trout

Why hoppers work

Through the warmer months terrestrials, hoppers, beetles, ants and moths, make up a big part of a trout's diet on lakes and rivers alike. A grasshopper is a mouthful, and a trout that would ignore a small mayfly will often move a long way to eat one. That makes hopper season a genuine chance at a big brown on a dry fly.

Let the wind help you

A stiff summer breeze feels like a nuisance but it's your friend here. Wind knocks hoppers off the bankside grass and onto the water, and it pushes them into wind lanes, those slick, foam-flecked lines you see running across a lake. Trout patrol those lanes because the food is concentrated there.

Fish the windward banks, the ones the breeze is blowing onto, and drift your fly down the wind lanes. The chop also hides your leader and your approach, so you can get closer than you'd think.

Patterns and presentation

A buoyant, well-hackled hopper pattern in tan, green or yellow, roughly matching the naturals, is all you need. Cast it tight to the bank or up-wind of a cruising fish and let it sit. A small twitch to make it kick like a struggling hopper can be the trigger, but often a dead drift does the job.

The take is usually confident and visual, which is what makes it so addictive. Wait until the fish has turned down on the fly before you lift, or you'll pull it away.

Targeting the big browns

The best fish often sit tight against the bank in ankle-deep water, sipping hoppers with barely a ripple. Spotting them, judging the cast in the wind, and holding your nerve to let the fish eat is where a guided day pays off. I'll put you within range of these fish and help you make the shot count.