Mini DH Hooper - Finally at last figured it out

Finally figured it out and I really like the looks of this little hopper. Been trying to get the DH hopper down in size to match the small hoppers up in South park. Really like the Umpqua competition series 550 hook for this pattern. If you don't want to pay the price for those hooks TMC 2488 hooks also work. This fly will also work as a general attractor pattern. I will get a video up shortly on this pattern.

Size 10 an 12 Mini DH Hopper Umpqua C550 competition hook

Size 12 Mini DH Hopper TMC2488 Hook

Natures Sprit Bleached and Dyed Muskrat Grey Peacock Herl

 

 

I've had this in my material stash for a while, Natures Sprit Bleached and Dyed Peacock Herl. This stuff is really cool. It comes in multiple colors. These are a couple variations of a RS-2 tied with this peacock herl. The bodies are coated with Deer Creek Flies Diamond Fine UV resin. Check thenm out     

 

 

 

At the vise today

Every once in a while I get in the mood to tie up a classic. Well today that classic was a Muddler minnow with a twist. I really like tying the body with ultra wire. So hear are a couple pictures of the days work. A properly tied Muddler is a thing of beauty, these still have some work. For the most part I'm pleased with them.

 

 

 

Step By Step Tutorial Tan Luccent Larva

Tan Luccent Larva

Hook: MFC #7045 Size 12 thru 16

Bead: MFC Luccent Tungsten Coffee

Thread: 8/0 Brown

Rib: X-SM Copper Wire

Abdomen: MFC Sand Luccent Micro Chenille

Thorax: MFC Brown Generation X Dubbing, Brown SLF Spikey Squirrel and Brown UV Ice Dubbing. All Blended together

Scud Back: Tan Mottled Scud back

 

Place Bead on hook and put hook into vice

 Wrap 6 to 8 turns .10 lead wire

 

 Start thread and lay down base of thread

 

 Tie wire rib on side of hook and bind down to back of fly

 

 Tie in Luccent Micro Chenille

 

 Bind down Luccent chenille down to back of fly

 

Wrap Luccent chenille forward to the 75% point of fly. Bind down and trim excess away

 



 Split thread

 

 Insert dubbing into split thread. Do not over do the dubbing, does not take that much dubbing.

 

 Spin bobbin clockwise to tighten up dubbing

 

 Wrap dubbing forward to behind bead

 

 Brush dubbing down to create a smooth top of fly

 

 Attach scud back right behind bead

 

 Pull scud back down over the back of fly and bind down with copper rib. About 5 to 6 turns

 

 The last rib should end up at the back of thorax. Pull wire underneath thorax and make one wrap behind bead and tie of with thread. Cut wire

 Whip finish and cut thread

 

 Color thorax region of fly with brown marker

 

 Finished Fly side

 

 Finished fly top

 

Finished fly bottom

New Scud pattern

Been working on a new scud pattern for a while now. Think I have it where I want it. It is a fairly simple tie. The dubbing mixture is a mix of the SLF spiky squirrel and UV Ice dub. It has the Diamond Hard resin on the back over a scud back. The eyes are a neat touch but you don't need them.

 

The Diamond Olive Scud

The Diamond Grey Scud

Pheasant Tail Nymph - The Many Colors

The Pheasant Tail nymph is still one of my all time favorites. It is not just one color any more, natural. I tie and fish my Pheasant Tail nymphs in 5 colors, for this article I tied 2 more new colors.

I fish a black and olive more than the natural Pheasant Tail nymph. With the advent of the colored beads it adds another level to the Pheasant tail Nymph. 

The pheasant tail nymph today is still a thing of beauty. They are a fairly quick tie and a lot of variations. Go ahead a give them a try.

 

Standard Pheasant Tail Nymph. Colors from left to right, rusty brown, chartreuse, black, olive, black/red, red & natural.

 A few variations of the BH Pheasant Tail Nymph, Blue, red, Mercury natural & natural.

 BH red pheasant tail nymph

BH natural flash back pheasant tail nymph

 BH blue pheasant tail nymph

 Natural pheasant tail nymph

 Black and red pheasant tail nymph

Just a few colors of pheasant tails. Black, natural, chartreuse, olive, rusty brown, red & blue

Red & Black Diamond Chironomid

Been playing with this pattern for a while know. This pattern has some similarities to the Yankee Buzzer. This was one of the main patterns I was tying at The Fly Fishing Show. A very similar version of this pattern was fished very successful over this last year. This one is tied with Deer Creeks Flies Diamond Hard Tack Free UV Resin. This is the only UV resin that is truly take free after hitting it with the torch. Counting the days to ice off at some of my favorite still waters.

Material list for Red Diamond Chironomid

Hook: MFC #7231 Size 12 thru 16

Thread: Abdomen 8/0 white, Thorax 8/0 red

Rib: X-sm black and X-sm red

Abdomen: Pearl Fire Fly wrapped of white thread. Top half of abdomen is colored with red Sharpie, then wrapped with Fire Fly.

Wing buds: Amber goose biots

Thorax: 8/0 red thread

Breathers: Ultra Floss

Material list for Black Diamond Chironomid

Hook: MFC #7231 Size 12 thru 16

Thread: Abdomen 8/0 white, Thorax 8/0 Black

Rib: X-sm black and X-sm red

Abdomen: Pearl Fire Fly wrapped of white thread. Top half of abdomen is colored with black Sharpie, then wrapped with Fire Fly.

Wing buds: Amber goose biots

Thorax: 8/0 black thread

Breathers: Ultra Floss

Tying Video - Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

Here is another fly in my fly tying class, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph. It is a classic and some solid techniques in teaching fly tying. Enjoy.

DH Hooper - The evolution of a pattern

 The DH Hopper made another small change over the weekend. I was playing around at the vise this weekend and this is what came about. I borrowed the lower half of the abdomen from the Hooper Juan, so far I really like the effects. This gives a really neat affect of the under body . I think this pattern has made it's final steps. The DH Hopper killed it all summer up in South Park. My friend Lance and is guide service tore it up with this pattern late summer. He fished the previous verison to this one. The under body is now tied with 2mm foam instead of the razor foam. I actually tie in the under body complete before I tie in the over body. The flies you are seeing in the picture are all size 12, will not be hard to increase the size