How to tie: a Parachute Hopper

With: Charlie's Fly Box

It’s one of those underrated gems—great for those fish that are keen on real Hoppers in quieter waters. This fly is a bit more delicate compared to the big foamy Hoppers, making it ideal for picky fish

Materials

• Hook: Size 12 TMCO 5212 (2 extra long dry fly hook)

• Thread: Vivas 14 in gold

• Body: Antron dubbing in yellow and ginger

• Rib: Super floss (rubber material)

• Wing: Calf body hair

• Hackle: Cree feather or standard Grizzly

• Legs: Golden pheasant sections

Steps

1. Prepare the Hook Start with your size 12 hook and gold thread. Wrap the thread halfway down the hook and then back up to about a quarter from the hook eye. This is where you’ll tie in the parachute post.

2. Tie in the Parachute Post Take some cleaned and stacked calf body hair (about three-fourths of a hook shank long) and tie it in just behind the hook eye. Trim the hair at an angle to build a taper for the abdomen.

3. Create the Abdomen Wrap your thread back over the calf body hair to form a smooth taper down to the hook bend. Return to just behind the wing. Tie in your super floss rib material and wrap it back to the bend.

4. Dub the Body Take a good amount of your Antron dubbing and form a thin body starting at the bend and wrapping up to just behind the wing. Adjust the dubbing as needed, ensuring a slim profile.

5. Wrap the Rib Spiral the super floss rib forward through the dubbing and secure it behind the wing. Trim excess.

6. Add the Wing Use a turkey wing feather coated with clear fixative. Cut a piece the width of the hook gap, shape it to a rounded point, and tie it in behind the wing. Adjust the length and shape as necessary.

7. Attach the Legs Tie in the golden pheasant legs at the bend, spreading them evenly. Adjust and trim them to achieve the desired look.

8. Post the Wing Build a thread ramp against the base of the wing to stand it upright. Wrap the Cree feather hackle around the post, working from the base upward. Secure with thread wraps and trim the excess.

9. Finish Up Add a bit more dubbing to form the thorax, then wrap the hackle around the post. Whip finish and add head cement to secure the wing base.