Late Summer Magic & Hopper Bite
Suppose you’re fly fishing in Montana during August and you’re enjoying the weather since the sky is high and the grasses are dry. If you ask any local angler or any seasoned fishing guide, “Is this the peak season for hopper fishing in Montana?”. They’ll tell you, “This is one of the most exciting times of year for dry fly fishing”. During this part of the season, you can regularly find grasshoppers, ants, and other terrestrial insects along the banks that end up in the rivers. Jason, one of the finest Montana hopper fishing guides from Fishtales Outfitting, states, “August is the Super Bowl for hopper fishing.” Hopper Fishing? Yes, it’s a dry fly-fishing method that uses leggy, buoyant flies that resemble grasshoppers. So, you can easily understand that hopper fishing in Montana rivers during late summer is quite exciting, if high-energy and visual dry fly fishing is what you’re looking for.
Now, what should be the clear mental approach and patterns that can turn this hopper fishing activity into an unforgettable one? Let’s break down that in this blog.
Effective Hopper Patterns
There are a plethora of grasshopper patterns out there and many will work, but some will just work better than others. A good selection of hopper patterns will help in making a successful day on the water, flopping these fairly large, leggy flies into the riffles and at deep cut grassy banks. We feel there are some hopper patterns that you must know if you want to be successful at hopper fishing in Montana. Not all hoppers are created equal – some sit lower in the water, some move better. Let’s discuss the hopper patterns that may help improve your game in August on rivers such as the Yellowstone, Madison, and Beaverhead.
Chernobyl CFO Ant
You can find this fly pattern in several colors. The specialty of this fly pattern is that it works throughout the world. A tan CFO in size #8 -12, is effective as both a nocturnal stone and hopper imitation. This pattern is an attractive target for trout due to its unique design that moves great when twitched with double x rubber legs with no overwing. It has a lower profile than other hopper patterns but is still easy to see with the colored foam posts.
Size: #8 – 12
Color: tan, brown, peach
Skippy Hopper
The Skippy Hopper has been a guide favorite since it was created. The split tapered body and rubber legs add realism and provide a strong silhouette. We like them in tan, peach, and purple in sizes #8 – 12. This pattern sits low in the water just like a real hopper and skips easily, so trout have a hard time saying no to a Skippy Hopper.
Size: #8-12
Color: tan, peach
Chubby Chernobyl
The Chubby Chernobyl might be the most popular dry fly pattern ever created. It’s a go-to pattern for imitating both stoneflies and hoppers. It provides a strong buggy silhouette and a high-poly wing for great visibility. This pattern floats well and it can mule a heavy tungsten bead nymph. Perfect for hopper-dropper rigs.
Size: #8-14
Color: tan, pink, purple, gold
Panty Dropper Hopper
This is another foam hopper that looks very much like a real grasshopper. It can also support a beadhead nymph beneath to cover both feeding depths. The Panty Dropper Hopper works effectively in late summer, during warm afternoons with a steady breeze. Wonder why guides like them? They choose it for its floatation, visibility, and effectiveness in triggering strikes.
Size: #8 -12
Color: tan, yellow, peach
Stream Bank Hopper
This triple-layered foam hopper has an extended curved abdomen, ala “Club Sandwich”, knotted, barred rubber legs, and a deer hair over wing and a poly post. A realistic-looking hopper pattern that can support a beadhead nymph easily if needed. The deer hair wing gives this fly a larger profile and a higher stance on the water. This is a hopper pattern you’ll want to have in your fly box.
Size # 8 – 12
Color: tan, peach, yellow
Rigging Techniques with Which You Can Set Yourself Up for Success
A good hopper fishing set-up is fairly straightforward.
Rod & Reel Setup
Rod: Fast to medium fast action 8’6”- 9’ 4, 5 or 6 weight.
Reel: Appropriately sized for the line weight.
Line: Weight-forward floating line.
Leader & Tippet
Leader: 9 foot 3X
Tippet: 18” inches of 3X and 18” to 24” of 4X for the dropper.
Hopper-Dropper Rig Option
If you tie a nymph to your hopper’s hook bend, try using jig head droppers like:
- Frenchie
- Pheasant Tail
- Perdigon
Utilize this rig in the early morning when trout are still down and not quite ready for the hopper.
Think Like A Hopper, Cast Like A Hunter
Don’t think that a proper hopper pattern can maintain the hopper fishing activity. Mind management or mental game is also crucial. In this regard, you need to realize that patience and perseverance are the key to successful hopper fishing. You need to have confidence in your fly and faith in the entire process. You may have heard Dan, one of our guides, saying, “Trout eat when the water is right and your fly is tight to the bank.”
Fish the Right Water
If you’re thinking which riverside can be the best hopper highways, focus on rivers such as The Beaverhead, Big Hole, Madison, and Yellowstone. These rivers are full of grassy banks, boulders, and shallow riffle drop-offs.
- Tight to the bank, especially with overhanging grass
- Inside edge soft seams
- Foam lines
- Structure
Along with that, a warm August afternoon with a steady breeze is a blessing since it blows the real hoppers off the bank. One of our guides Lamont said, “The river really comes alive when the wind stirs up after lunch”.
Let’s focus on some actionable tips that can be useful and boost your hopper game quickly:
- Cover water in a quick manner. If there’s an interested fish, it’ll take a shot at it the first time it sees it.
- Figure out when the fish are mostly active (from 11 am – 4 pm)
- Change the color of the hopper before changing its size.
- Bring a few ants or beetles, in case the fish refuse the hopper.
Make the Most out of the Hopper Season
If you want to have a firsthand experience, late summer is the best season to make it happen. Guided hopper fishing with Fishtales Outfitting helps you to give the best shot at success. Our guides at Fishtales Outfitting know the wind patterns, local hatches, and bank angles so that they can direct you towards the right path. Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced angler, Montana hopper fishing guided trips can help you successfully complete the activity.
Plan your Montana Hopper fly fishing adventure with our experts at mtfishtales.com. We provide tailored day trips for outstanding hopper fishing. Visit Fishtales Outfitting and book your trip today!
Because hopper time doesn’t last long, but the memories will!