Takahashi's Bopper Hopper - Umpqua Fly
Details
The Bopper Hopper is my entry into the world of the Chernobyl Ant and was developed after having a friend of mine Jude Duran (talented fly tier and guide on the San Juan) showed me a technique of presenting a large ant/hopper style pattern to a fish who had just taken a Blue Winged Olive off the surface. We would cast directly at the rise form created by the trout taking the mayfly, the result was a reaction take of the trout. I designed a pattern that I later called Tak's Bopper Hopper after my Daughter Haley. She was born the year the Hale Bop Comet was visible at night; I'd often take her out to see the comet although she was just a baby. I gave her the nickname of "Bop" and thus wanted to name a fly after her. My goal was to create a flush high floating pattern that could be easily seen. The body is constructed using 2mm craft foam in any color pattern desired. I use a midge saddle hackle for the underbody, white zelon for the under wing, good quality deer hair for the wing and a hackle for a collar. I added spanflex mottled legs to give addition movement of the fly. I originally tied the foam bodies using more natural colors of foam but experimenting with brighter colors such as pink, purple, orange and lime green have proven to be every effective. I have found success fishing this pattern in foam colors different from those found in the market. This pattern has been very successful as a hopper/ dropper combination; I usually use my Go2 Caddis or Prince nymph as the dropper.
All Umpqua flies are tied on Tiemco Hooks. These top quality Japanese hooks are tempered and forged for strength and chemically sharpened.
All Umpqua flies are tied on Tiemco Hooks. These top quality Japanese hooks are tempered and forged for strength and chemically sharpened.
Fly Recipe
HOOK: Tiemco 200R (#8 - #12)
THREAD: Ultra Thread 140 Denier (Tan)
BODY (HACKLE): Midge Rooster Hackle (Brown)
COLLAR: Rooster Hackle (Brown)
BODY (FOAM): 2mm Fly Foam (Tan)
UNDERWING: Z-Lon (White)
WING: Deer Hair (Brown or Natural Mule Deer)
LEGS: SpanFlex (Ginger or Mottled Olive)
THREAD: Ultra Thread 140 Denier (Tan)
BODY (HACKLE): Midge Rooster Hackle (Brown)
COLLAR: Rooster Hackle (Brown)
BODY (FOAM): 2mm Fly Foam (Tan)
UNDERWING: Z-Lon (White)
WING: Deer Hair (Brown or Natural Mule Deer)
LEGS: SpanFlex (Ginger or Mottled Olive)