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Fly Tying the Letort Hopper

Letort Hopper recipe, step-by-steps, and video with expert fly tier Charlie Craven.

Fly Tying the Letort Hopper

Letort Hopper Recipe

  • Hook: TMC 100SP-BL #10-16
  • Thread: Yellow 3/0 Monocord
  • Abdomen: Pale Yellow Dubbing
  • Wing: Turkey Wing Fibers, coated with vinyl cement
  • Collar and Head: Natural Deer hair

Tying The Letort Hopper

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 1 of 13

Start the thread and wrap back to the bend of the hook.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 2 of 13

Dub the body from the bend up to about the 75 percent point.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 3 of 13

Clip a coated section of turkey wing fibers and trim the butt end to a point. This slip should be about 2/3rd as wide at the hook gap.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 4 of 13

Lay the slip on top of the hook with the tip extending just beyond the bend. Tie the slip in place with a couple firm wraps of thread.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 5 of 13

Clip the excess turkey slip close to the hook shank on the front. Build a thread base to the eye and back to the base of the body.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 6 of 13

Cut, clean and stack a clump of deer hair. Measure the tips against the hook so they are about a shank length long. Clip the butt ends a bit so they have square ends.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 7 of 13

Hold the clump of hair above the hook with the butt ends sticking out past the hook eye.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 8 of 13

Put two three soft turns of thread over the hair at the front of the abdomen.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 9 of 13

Pull the thread toward you and slightly back to flare the butt ends. Wrap the thread forward through the butt ends of the hair to the front of the clump.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 10 of 13

Cut and clean another bunch of hair and clip the tips off. Place this clump of hair on the hook from the front with the center of the clump even with the front of the first bunch.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 11 of 13

Put three turns around this clump and spin it on the hook.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 12 of 13

Work the thread forward through the hair to the eye and whip finish the thread.

Tying The Letort Hopper Step 13 of 13

Use a razor blade to trim the head into a square shape as shown here. Leave the natural tips on top to form the collar.

Finished Letort Hopper

Fly Tying The Letort Hopper Video

 

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