My first Sunken Hopper Critique please

[fflutterffly]

I know the legs and hackles seem to long. What else:

[tie2fish]

ff ~ This looks "buggy" as all get out -- great first tie. I'm sure this will catch fish as is, but if you really wish to match the pattern more closely:
- Bigger head; hoppers have even bigger heads than do caddis
- A little smoother body
- Rib with more contrast (darker material)
- A shorter tail
- Once the legs are tied in, add body dubbing to make it appear that they come out of the sides of the thorax area
- Try using "softer" hackle

[Old Hat]

Definitely buggy, I love it! It would make a nice sunken Crane Fly.

Here is the direction I would go for a hopper. Not too much tweaking needed.

1. For the tail shorter and denser. More of a tuft of color than a tail.
2. More color in the body. Yellows, cream or green.
3. I would palmer the hackle.
4. I would dub the head for a bigger profile and just a tad darker than the body.

[fflutterffly]

Any tips on how to make the legs better. Here is my process:
I take, for example, a hen hackle, trim down the barbs to a point. I should leave some of the hackles long to get that large "tight" look, but I haven't accomplished that yet. (I might just go trimmed hackle all the way.) Next I tie it in just behind the area where I will hackle.

I'll do a smaller tail/tuff. Larger head. and I've cut the legs down a little shorter. contrasting ribbing with a little darker body. OK here I go.

[letumgo]

Ariel - Have you gone out and looked at the hoppers in your area? I have found that grasshoppers come in an amazing variety of colors, depending on the location. Hoppers in my area (Western New York) generally have a uniform slate-gray color, while the hoppers in my parents area (Adirondack Mountains) tend to be mottled olive-green, with some red/orange on the legs. I will see if I can find my reference pictures to illustrate the difference. I mention this, simply to illustrate that you may want to choose colors to match the local insect. Just a suggestion.

Beautiful fly, btw. I'd fish that in a heartbeat.

Ray (letumgo)

EDIT (adding photos to illustrate the difference in hopper colors):

Western New York Hopper (camouflage blends in with the local gray shale outcroppings)


Eastern New York Hopper (camouflage blends in well with vegetation)

Notice the destinctive red/orange in the legs.

[willowhead]

You did a very nice job. That fly will catch fish all day. i agree with Bill about darker ribbing.....button-hole twist works very well. There are many things you can use, but if you want the fly to sink, use materials that soak up water. i also like the Yellow and Cream or Green colors like Carl was saying, but as Ray said, match the local hatch. And don't worry bout "long"........long is good.

[fflutterffly]

Second attempt: Changed body color, built up thorax, built up head, hackle Mallard.

[Old Hat]

I wouldn't worry about the legs much. They look fine to me. I like to just knot a few pheasant tail fibers together.

Those look good.

[fflutterffly]

You all have been more than generous with your time. I had simply forgotten one of the basics and that was to look. Look at the species in my river. I get so excited I over looked the obvious and have rectified that by looking at Sierra Hoppers on Bing. Your passion for the art of tying comes across in your gracious comments. I'm very lucky to have found this site and your advice. Looking forward to the next swap.
I'm giving you all a hug for the help. Yeah I know it's sloppy and sentimental, but deal with it you big lugs.

[tie2fish]

ff ~ You addressed all the suggestions very well in your newest version, and the result is excellent. You might wish to try using cock feathers for the legs, as they are stiffer and therefore easier to handle and position.