Claret hopper

 

A popular fly in the United Kingdom this fly is equally at home early and late in the season in Australia. We don't have any burgundy coloured hoppers that I am aware of but this buggy looking fly often works when the first and last of the seasons terrestrials are around. Whilst not a strong floater this fly ticks all the boxes for those that want an enticing fly that will sit in the surface film.

Materials

Hook Thread Body Rib Legs Hackle
Knapek W or D in size #10 to #14 Black Claret seals fur Silver holographic tinsel Pheasant tail fibres Furnace or brown

Process

A
  1. Wind the thread in touching turns to the bend of the hook.
  2. Tie in a length of silver holographic tinsel.

B
  1. Dub an acorn shaped body along the rear 3/4 of the hook shank.

C
  1. Wind the holographic tinsel forward along the body forming 4 or 5 uniform segments on the body.
  2. Trim the excess holographic tinsel off.
  3. Using a piece of Velcro tease out the dubbing creating a bit of a halo around the body of the fly.

D
  1. Make up 4 sets of legs. Each set of legs should consist of 3 Cock Pheasant tail fibres knotted about a hook length from the tip.
  2. Tie 2 sets of legs on each side of the front of the body with the knots ion the legs being roughly over the back of the hook.

E
  1. Tie in a hackle by the butt directly in front of the body of the fly.
  2. Wind the thread forward to just behind the eye of the hook.

F
  1. Wind the hackle forward in touching turns.
  2. Lock the hackle in place by taking a couple of firm turns of thread.
  3. Build up a neat head of thread.
  4. Whip finish the thread, trim the thread and varnish the head.



Last Updated: August 6, 2011
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Categories: Dry flies, Flies, Hoppers, locust & crickets
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