Begun the drowned grasshopper fly wars have

[4thru8weights]

Best way to fish the terrestrials, no?

Tail of guinea body dyed red - about a hook gap in length.
body of one ply of chartreuse green yarn.
rib of yellow gimp

wing olive dun antron yarn split in half, tied in then doubled over tied again length to half of tail

over wing of mallard flank dyed yellow about a hook gap past tail
hackle the greenish pheasant rump.

[letumgo]

Can you share a picture? I'd like to see this pattern.

I have done well with this sunken hopper pattern in the past.



Pattern Recipe:
Hook - Daiichi Model 1510/Size 10
Thread - UNI-Thread (Black 6/0)
Abdomen - Craft Trim Yarn (Camel) - Twisted and Furled to form rear body
Legs - Rainy's Natural Pheasant Tail Knotted Hopper Legs
Wing - Golden Pheasant Tippets (Dyed Hot Orange with Koolaid)
Body - Fox Squirrel in a dubbing loop and wrapped as fur chenille

This fly looks out of place on this forum, but it was actually inspired by one of our older swaps (IBF hair hackle swap). I started playing around with the idea of coming up with a sinking hair-hackle hopper pattern. After a number of attempts, I thought this looked like a good fishing pattern. The pattern uses absorbent materials to allow it to soak up water and sink below the surface to imitate a drowned hopper. The hair can also be treated with some floatant, allowing the fly to ride low in the surface film. Once the fly has been soaked with water, it lands on the water with a nice soggy "plop".

I trimmed the body below the hook, which gives the pattern a better profile

[Fishnkilts]

Can you share a picture? I'd like to see this pattern.

I have done well with this sunken hopper pattern in the past.

What material is that forming the upper body? I can't quite make it out. But what a hot looking hopper!

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I am so glad you put up the recipe for that hopper. Smallies and Crappie are on the hit list here after the rivers get too warm for trout. Gonna be tying a few of those up.

Is that fox squirrel body hair for the fly body or or fox squirrel tails? Looks kinda long.

[4thru8weights]

This should work! Sorry, Ray. I didn't realize my cell phone photos were so large.

[4thru8weights]

Ray.
Your fly looks great and retains that classic hopper shape with both the body and the head. Is that head/ collar just squirrel in a dubbing loop? Super cool.

[letumgo]

Yes. Just squirrel fur in a dubbing loop. The trimmed on bottom.

[Mike62]

Ray, I don't suppose we could impose upon you and ask for a 'Drowned Grasshopper' tutorial could we? That's the best looking hopper pattern I've seen in awhile.

[redsedge]

That's the best looking hopper pattern I've seen in awhile.

I second that!

[Fishnkilts]

I agree, a tutorial would be awesome.