Joes Hopper

Written by DCarp

Joes Hopper

RWFF Joes Hopper

• Hook: Dry Fly 6-14
• Thread: Yellow
• Tail: Red Hackle Fibers
• Body: Yellow Yarn, Poly Yarn or Chenille
• Rib: Brown Hackle Palmered
• Wing: Turkey
• Hackle: Grizzly and/or Brown

HISTORY

Developed by Art Winnie in the early 1940's. It was known as the Michigan Hopper but evolved into the name of Joe's Hopper by the 1950's. Gary LaFontaine was a strong proponent of Joe's Hopper. He preferred the weighted variety and would wade upstream presenting a drag-free drift. He found that size and color played a primary role in trout selection. The trout would prefer the most abundant mature hopper in a particular size and color available on the stream. Larger hoppers might be available but they would be ignored by the trout. Gary also liked to utilize a skip cast and a carom splash off the banks. He tried to minimize the use of the loud splat presentation since it would often frighten the fish.

RWFF FISHING TIP

Joe's Hopper can be fished as a dry fly but it is often fished as a wet fly when it is weighted. Fish the fly within riffles during the hottest part of the day. Also use the fly along undercut banks and deep pools.