Ryan Brennecke / The BulletinSwiss Grasshopper, tied by Quintin McCoy.

There are better hopper patterns to tie for our Western river trout, but this is an interesting example of how a fly-fisherman from Switzerland might attempt to match the terrestrial. From above, it doesn’t look as hopper-like as our old standbys, but pick it up and look at it from the trout’s perspective. Looks a little better now, doesn’t it?

Hoppers, in their enthusiasm and due to the whims of weather, are prone to end up on the water. Some try to swim back to shore. Most end up in a trout’s belly. Crawl up to the water’s edge and peer over the bank. If there’s a trout holding close to shore, chances are he’ll eat a hopper.

Tie this pattern with olive thread on a No. 8-14 long shank. For the body, use olive yarn ribbed with yellow thread. Use knotted pheasant tail fibers for the rear legs. For the wing, use lacquered grey duck. Tie the head with olive yarn. Finish with short pheasant fiber front “legs.”

—Gary Lewis, for The Bulletin