For a hook you will need a long shank nymph hook like these Risen 9231's,
and today im tying a size 12.
Place the hook securely in your vice.
For thread I really like this veevus 10/0 and today im using brown.
Start your thread at the eye of the hook, and then snip of snap off the waste.
Then bring your thread down to the bend of the hook.
Next we will need some dubbing. Today Im using this Antron dubbing in cream color.
You want a fair amount here, since we will be bulking up the hook a bit.
Dub this onto your thread pretty tightly, and fairly thick as well.
Now wrap the dubbing noodle up the hook shank covering the hook.
But leave a small section bare just behind the hook eye.
Now we need some 2mm foam.
Last week I tied a Chernobyl ant
that also used foam. As mentioned before this comes in a wide variety of colors.
Anyway today I am using tan.
I mentioned last week that these are called river road cutters.
They make easy work of foam bodies on flies.
We will cut out some bodes like last weeks video, however we will want to cut these a bit longer,
so bring the cutter down from the edge a bit, and then cut out the foam.
We will now need some scissors to finish the cut like so.
Measure out a tail to about a hook gap length.
Place this on top of the hook shank and make one wrap over it
to put a mark of measurement in the foam.
Now grab some super glue and coat the top of the hook with glue.
Place the foam back on top of the hook and press down to glue it into place.
Just like last week we will make one even wrap over the foam, and then bring the thread
down a bit with a cross over the foam. Then make 2-3 wraps to create a segment.
Do this 3 times until you reach the hook bend.
Then come back up two segments crossing the opposite direction like so.
Now we need some deer hair. I really like this bleached stimulator hair
which has finer fibered fur. However any deer hair will work with this fly.
Cut off a fairly thick section like so. Then comb out the underfur and short fibers.
Put in a stacker and align the tips.
Well here I have a broken tip on one of the fibers, it happens sometimes.
Its best if you can to pull this out.
Measure out the wing to extend back about as long as the foam tail, maybe a bit shorter.
Now cut off the but ends at that measurement so you have a squared off piece to tie in like so.
Tie this down with tight wraps, and dont worry about flairing the hair.
Pull up the excess foam and fold it back over the front like so to create a big head on the fly.
Make a couple wraps to capture it. However try to make sure its tied in evenly. Here I angled
the thread a bit which changed the shape of the head. So I decided to re-do that part.
Ok here we go, Im happy with the shape of the head there.
Ive got a few fibers angling out a bit, so its ok to cut them off if you do as well.
Now we need some rubber legs, and today Im using the centipede legs
in speckled tan color. Cut one piece off the bunch
As mentioned last week, these come in a wide variety of colors and sizes.
Double up the leg, and tie it down on top of the fly with two loose wraps.
Cut the loop to make two legs.
Pull one leg down to the side of the fly, and the other one down to the other side.
Lets grab a bit more of that dubbing and make a thin tight noodle on your thread.
Then wrap this between the spaces there. Pull back the legs as well
when you wrap, and this will help lay down the back legs a bit more.
Ok cut a strip in some lighter colored foam.
Place this on top of the fly head like so and tie it down with a couple tight wraps.
This will act as a hot spot on this fly and be easier to see on the water.
Cut off the excess piece to leave a small hot spot.
Ok so now you can whip finish your fly. Many people whip finish like this over
this section, however I find this can come loose a bit easier.
I actually pull everything back, and make a wrap up in front of the head
right behind the hook eye. Then whip finish there.
Some say this make a week point because the thread is exposed, but I dont find that the case,
In fact I find this way more durable. However its up to you how you want to finish your fly.
Either way, add a drop of super glue over the
whip finish to insure it will last through many fish strikes.
Well guys my camera didnt film this part before, but I also add a bit
of glue on the side where the legs are, and then cut the legs to length.
Cut the front a bit shorter than the back,
and I like the back legs to extend to just about the back of the foam tail there.
There we have it, the finished GFA hopper. I dont know who the originator of this pattern is,
but it has become one of my favorite foam flies. It works great for trout,
bass, and even sunfish when tied smaller. Its durable and floats very well.
Let me know in the comment section what your favorite foam pattern is.