Hi Mario,
Thanks for taking the time to do this tying sequence! This weekend I'm starting to tie for my stream box, and this will come in very handy.
Cheers,
Shaun
Tying the Madam X Hopper
Sequence by Mario Geldenhuys
Materials Needed:
Terrestrial Hook (I used #14 for this sequence)
6/0 Thread - Colour of choice
Rubber Leg Material – Colour of Choice
Coarse Dubbing, like Hare’s Blend of Seal’s Fur - Colour of Choice
Closed-cell Foam - Colour of Choice
Deer Hair
Step 1:
Secure the thread onto the hook, running the thread all the way down to the butt of the hook.
Step 2:
Cut a small piece of the closed-cell foam and tie in the back of the hook. The shape and size of the foam is up to you. I like to keep it simple, and simply cut a 2-3mm wide piece about 20mm long.
Step 3:
Apply some dubbing to your thread, and dub the body forward onto the hook, covering about 2/3 of the shank. The 1/3 left will be for the head of the hopper. Make sure to leave enough room – dubbing too far forward is a common mistake. Wind/dub all the way back to the butt of the hook again.
Step 4:
Fold the foam forward over the shank, but leave a little “butt” at the back (see pic). Then secure the foam by winding forward, creating a ribbed abdomen. I usually give each rib 2-3 winds to secure the foam properly. Stop at the position where the dubbing stops, and trim of the excess foam.
Step 5:
Cut of some deer hair, about the thickness of a pencil (for a #14 pattern). Make sure the hairs are long enough to create a correct length wing. Use a hair-stacker and align the tips of the hairs. Tie the hairs in as shown. Secure firmly. Trim the deer hair sticking out at the “back” of the head.
Step 6:
Wind the thread forward to the eye, securing the deer hair. Wind right up to the eye, and then wind back to the foam again.
Step 7:
Now pull the deer hair back, forming the “bullet” shape if the head. Secure with thread.
Step 8:
Take the rubber leg material and tie in just behind the head. Make sure you use long pieces, as the effectiveness of any hopper pattern is greatly reduced if the legs are too short (imho). Whip finish the thread, and go fish!
Notes:
I prefer to use lightly coloured foam, as this gives me the ability to colour it with permanent markers to more accurately imitate the hopper found in a given area. I have also used Gray/Brown Holographic dubbing for the underbody, which has been very successful as well.
You can also download a PDF version here ->http://www.smallstreams.co.za/madamx...m_X_Hopper.pdf
Last edited by smallstreams.co.za; 18-02-08 at 09:40 AM.
Mario Geldenhuys
Smallstream fanatic, plus I do some other things that I can't tell you about
"All the tips or magical insights in the world can't replace devotion, dedication, commitment, and gumption - and there is not secret in that" - Glenn Brackett
Hi Mario,
Thanks for taking the time to do this tying sequence! This weekend I'm starting to tie for my stream box, and this will come in very handy.
Cheers,
Shaun
very nice
PK
I am haunted by waters - Norman Maclean
Mario Geldenhuys
Smallstream fanatic, plus I do some other things that I can't tell you about
"All the tips or magical insights in the world can't replace devotion, dedication, commitment, and gumption - and there is not secret in that" - Glenn Brackett
Mario Geldenhuys
Smallstream fanatic, plus I do some other things that I can't tell you about
"All the tips or magical insights in the world can't replace devotion, dedication, commitment, and gumption - and there is not secret in that" - Glenn Brackett
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