TerrestrialbeginnerRocky Mountain West
Dave's Hopper
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Rocky Mountain Fly Design
Matched on Rocky Mountain West, terrestrial flies, trout. Colorado tier and shop lead for Rocky Mountain trout, bass, and predator patterns.
Taos Fly Shop
Matched on Rocky Mountain West, terrestrial flies, trout. New Mexico/Southwest trout shop lead for Rio Grande, San Juan, Pecos, and high desert water.
Fulling Mill Flies
Matched on terrestrial flies, trout, nymph. Large pattern house with broad freshwater and saltwater fly categories.
Big Y Fly Co.
Matched on terrestrial flies, trout, nymph. Broad by-type catalog useful for common benchmark patterns and inexpensive backups.
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Dave Whitlock created this pattern when he realized that grasshoppers are essentially protein bars with wings, and trout treat them accordingly. From July through September, hoppers tumble into western rivers in sufficient quantities to turn even educated brown trout into surface-feeding opportunists. Dave's Hopper lands with the signature 'splat' that says 'large insect made a terrible mistake,' and the deer hair collar keeps it floating long enough for a trout to swim over, evaluate, and commit. It is the fly that makes hopper season the most fun you can have on a trout stream while standing up.
Quick Facts
Where to Fish It
Yellowstone River
MT · Freestone River
Madison River
MT · Freestone River
Snake River
WY · Freestone River
Green River
UT · Tailwater
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Related Reading
region guide
Rocky Mountain Trout: A River-by-River Guide
The Rocky Mountain West holds the finest trout rivers in North America. From the gin-clear tailwaters of Colorado to the sweeping freestone rivers of Montana, these waters offer everything from technical dry fly fishing to aggressive streamer hunting. This is your river-by-river guide to all of it.
seasonal playbook
The Summer Guide: Long Days and Willing Fish
Summer is fly fishing's season of abundance. Sixteen-hour days, prolific hatches, aggressive fish, and the full spectrum from mountain trout to saltwater flats. This is your playbook for making the most of the warmest, longest, most generous months of the fishing year.
hatch guide
Terrestrial Fishing: Hoppers, Ants, and Beetles
Terrestrial insects — hoppers, ants, beetles, and crickets — are not aquatic hatches, but they drive some of the most exciting and productive dry-fly fishing of the year. From midsummer hopper banks to fall ant flights, this is your guide to fishing the land-based food sources that trout cannot resist.
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