An Introduction to Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are one of the most ancient living groups of insects dating back around 250 million years.
"Hopper" season is among the best times of year to fly fish in Montana; attracting anglers from around the world to experience the thrill of hooking into wild trout on large dry flies. Montana fishing guides relish those late July and August days when some of the largest trophy Montana trout of the season come to hand.
Characteristics of Hoppers
- They are ground-dwelling insects with powerful hind legs, which allows them to escape threats by leaping vigorously.
- They have a typical insect body plan of head, thorax, and abdomen. The head bears a large pair of compound eyes, which give all-around vision and three simple eyes, which can detect light and dark. Their threadlike antennae are sensitive to touch and smell.
- The thorax and abdomen are segmented and made of rigid plates.
- They have 3 pairs of legs and 2 pairs of wings.
- They protect themselves from predators through camouflaging to their surroundings. They’ll attempt to startle their predators via a brilliantly colored wing flash when they leap or fly for short distances.
- They are plant-eaters and are most active during the day.
- The species that make noises do so by rubbing a row of pegs on the hind legs against the edges of the wings. They do this to attract females.
Overview of the Grasshopper Lifecycle
- Grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes) hatch from an egg into a nymph and then undergo 5 molts becoming more similar to the adult through each developmental stage.
- Eggs remain in the soil for up to 2 years and begin to hatch in late spring or early summer. Adults appear from July through September and vary in colors from green, gray, brown, or reddish.
- At high population densities and under certain environmental conditions, some grasshoppers can change color and behavior to form swarms. Under these conditions, they are known as locusts.
Montana Fly Fishing During Hopper Season
- Trout begin to key into "hoppers" as an important food source as hatching insects become sparse during the heat of summer.
- The Yellowstone River, upper Madison River, and Clark Fork River are a few of the best rivers in Montana to experience hopper fishing.
- Floating the Yellowstone River with Fins and Feathers Guide Service is always a highlight for our guided fly fishing trip guests while fly fishing near Bozeman in late July and August.
Top 10 Hopper Dry Fly Patterns for Montana Fly Fishing
