Hoppertunity Knocks

Walk into any fly shop out west this time of the year for a bit of local information and it won’t be long until someone lets you know that fish are eating Hoppers! Late July -September, in the Bozeman area, provides some of the most unique fly-fishing of the year as trout begin to “look up” and focus on Grasshoppers that mistakenly end up on the water. They come in all sizes and colors in the wild – and even more in the fly bins. It never hurts to have too many flies, in my opinion, but here are the top 5 hopper fly patterns for fly-fishing the Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone rivers of Southwest Montana.

Thunder Thigh Hopper

The Thunder Thigh hopper has become a regional best seller and guide favorite as it “checks all of the boxes” in that it floats high, is easy to see, durable, and fish eat it! Available in several sizes and colors, I prefer to fish this one in the Golden, Pink, or Tan color in either a size 10 or 12. Its buoyant foam body easily holds up most “dropper” nymphs, including the heavily weighted jig-style nymphs we have come to rely on most days.

Morrish Hopper

The Morrish Hopper has been a longtime staple for fly-fishers around Bozeman during the summer months for many years now. This all-foam pattern comes in a wider range of sizes and colors as it is fished all over the world, for a wide range of trout and other species as well. I keep plenty of these on hand in sizes 8-12 in the Golden, Pink, and Tan options. This pattern sits low in the water, like an actual hopper, and is a go-to option in just about all types of water but is a stand-out choice when fish are holding in long glides and tail-outs.

This summertime staple of Montana fly fishing has been around longer than me, and still fools trout everywhere that I try it! This low-profile fly has a tall post that makes it highly visible to the angler when fishing riffles and pocket water. I grab this pattern for smaller streams and rivers, especially when wade-fishing along busier pieces of water like the Gallatin Canyon. The Umpqua version is - by far - the most well-tied and durable of all the variations that I have tried over the last 30 years. This is the best hopper pattern to use when trout become wary of the large, foam flies most anglers prefer.

Water Walker

Is it a Stonefly or Hopper? The Water Walker has become one of those fly patterns that is available in an endless array of color schemes and sizes range from 4 – 16! It undoubtably works and fish eat it, throughout the world. During hopper season, I keep a steady supply of these in my boxes in Tan, Circus Peanut, and purple colorways on hand in sizes 6-10. These low-profile foam flies work great when dead-drifted but can absolutely crush the bite somedays when fished with a twitching retrieve. In addition to hoppers, we have a Golden Stone that is locally referred to as a Nocturnal Stone which becomes very active during late July and August. It's rare to see adults flying around during the day, but their shucks can be readily identified along bankside rocks when they are actively hatching. The Tan Water Walker in a size 8 or 10 can be effective as both a Nocturnal Stone and Hopper imitation.

Foam Hopper

The Foam Hopper, by Montana Fly Company is an understated foam classic that floats extremely well and is surprisingly visible on cloudy days. Its’ poly yarn underwing helps with visibility and buoyancy without taking away from the realistic profile of this longtime favorite.

I often fish this in a size 6 as my “lead” hoper on a tandem hopper rig with a small Dave’s Hopper fished drowned behind the Foam Hopper. The sunken hopper imitates “drowned hoppers” but is likely also taken for Nocturnal Stone nymphs that are swimming in the water.

The Right Flies and Long Drifts

Many, many patterns will work well; these are the staples for me that just about always work. Chubby Chernobyl, Henneberry Hoppers, Panty Dropper Hoppers, and Grand Hoppers in tan, pink, or peach colors that range in sizes between 8-12 are also important patterns that are found in my boxes and fly patches.

“Hopper fishing” is one of the quintessential Montana fly-fishing experiences, characterized by long drifts and carefree eats by wild trout of all sizes and species. Having a wide assortment of patterns and understanding when to fish them is often the difference between finding a few fish and “really getting them” on our larger rivers in Southwest Montana like the Madison and the Yellowstone.

Experience fly fishing in Montana on the wild trout waters near Bozeman this summer with our team of fly fishing guides. Hopper fishing is much more effective while floating as anglers are able to effectively cover much more water than they do when limited to wading. Yellowstone and Madison River fly fishing trips are available throughout the summer and are excellent ways to experience some of the best dry fly fishing of the year in Montana.