Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Fishing the Grasshopper

Terrestrials are some of my favorite flies to cast in the summer and fall. I put the grasshopper to the test today fishing Ryan Creek on Smith Lake. I couldn’t have asked for a better morning with low humidity, no wind to speak of, and cloudy skies. The first spawn is winding down, causing the big gills to move to deeper water. That deeper water is where I was casting the hopper today against the huge rock walls on the lake. The walls are my favorite place to fish for the bigger fish during the down spawn time.
This bluegill exploded on the hopper just as I moved it inches off one of the many walls I fished today. All fish today were landed in water depths of 20 to 30 feet deep off the walls. One has got to love landing these beauties using the 4 or 5 weight fly rods.
I fished the brown hopper all morning because it was so hot with the hits. I’ll give the green hopper a try on my next outing. Both of these hoppers are so realistic and durable.  
Cathey and I will share these four for lunch with hushpuppies, french fries, slaw, and fresh tomatoes.
 
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10 comments:

  1. RalphsFlyBoxJune 13, 2018 at 6:09 AM

    Great fish! Love the “face full of hopper” shot.

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  2. Mark KautzJune 13, 2018 at 10:58 AM

    Since it's my impression that the hopper flies I have all float, are you using weight to get them to the 20/30 foot mark?

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  3. Bill TrussellJune 13, 2018 at 5:23 PM

    Ralph
    Notice the hopper is too big for a small one to take it---in fact I landed no small gills using it. Thanks for the comment

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  4. Bill TrussellJune 13, 2018 at 6:29 PM

    Mark
    The hopper I use is the floating version, which is a fairly big hopper. I will upload an image of it on the post for all you guys to see. During the summer the big gills hang out near the walls to nail anything that falls off the walls or from the limbs above the water level. Thanks for the comment

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  5. rivertopramblesJune 13, 2018 at 8:00 PM

    As you've very ably demonstrated, hoppers are a hot one for 'gills and bass. For some reason I don't use them much for trout up here, usually preferring Ants. Out West it's a different story. Thanks Bill.

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  6. Brk TrtJune 14, 2018 at 5:43 AM

    Bill, ants have been working here. They are something fish just seem to want to eat.

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  7. Bill TrussellJune 14, 2018 at 8:35 AM

    Walt
    The bass and bluegill will attack a well designed hopper when most other surface flies want get a look. I used some really big hoppers last summer on the Caney to land some nice browns, which was in late August. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Bill TrussellJune 14, 2018 at 8:39 AM

    Alan
    Thanks for reminding me about ants; I had forgot about this insect on the Sipsey. Thanks for the comment

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  9. cofisherJune 14, 2018 at 8:57 PM

    Yeah Bill, the bluegill quest is in full swing! Hoppers are a great fly for trout as well. Nice going!

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  10. Bill TrussellJune 15, 2018 at 6:05 PM

    Howard
    The quest is over the last of September, hopefully I make it to the finish this year. I've never completed the quest since I begin it six years ago. Thanks for the comment

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