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“Half-drowned Hopper Step-by-Step
This week’s Step-by-Step is a semi-original. Leaning on the popular Moodah Poodah attractor pattern’s use of a Klinkhammer-style hook, I’ve adapted the core concept to help solve a “match the hatch” problem that has been on my mind the last few years.
Leaning on the fact that sunken hoppers often outproduce their dry counterparts, I entered with the goal of creating an intermediary: a “Half-drowned” grasshopper riding low in the surface film with legs dragging behind and abdomen sagging below the surface. This “Half-drowned” Hopper Fly (Step-by-step) is the outcome.
Update (10/27/20): While I’ve fished this pattern in a variety of colors and sizes this season, it has become apparent that this fly is at its best when mimicking a cricket. Tied small (size 12 or 14) in the colors shown, this pattern is unbeatable on small warmwater streams.
| Materials | ||
|---|---|---|
 Klinkhammer (size 10-14) |  Ultra Thread 70 Denier (Black) |  Knotted Pheasant Tail Fibers |
 Hare’s Ear Ice Dub (Black) |  Hackle (Brown) over Hare’s Ear Ice Dub (Black) |  2-mm Craft Foam (Black) |
Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
(Click images to enlarge)
Step 1: Apply a few wraps of thread behind the eye of the hook. Trim tag. 
Step 2: Continue wraps to bend of hook creating an even thread base. 
Step 3: Dub a thick, tapered abdomen along curved portion of shank. 
Step 4: Knot two clumps of pheasant tail fibers at 60-90 degree angles. Secure with thread at front of abdomen. 
Step 5: Tie in saddle hackle and dub thorax. 
Step 6: Wrap hackle forward over thorax dubbing. Secure with thread and trim excess. 
Step 7: Cut a thin strip of craft foam (1-1.5x the length of shank). Tie in behind the eye of the hook. 
Step 8: Pull foam strip back & secure at base of thorax. 
Step 9: Trim wing to point. Whip Finish. (Top View) 
Finished product (Bottom View)
Proof of Concept:
While it may be a while before I can test the “Half-drowned” Hopper on the type of trout stream I was day dreaming about at the beginning, I did put this pattern (in size 14) to the test locally this past week. The full report can be found: here.
Tight lines everyone!
Chris
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