How to Tie a Hopper Dropper

Fly anglers use a variety of flies to attract and catch trout and other game fish species. From dry flies to streamers and nymphs, flies are presented to feeding or holding fish in the water column of a stream or river. A hopper dropper rig uses two flies tied together in a specific manner to help increase the chance of a strike.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly rod with matched reel, line, leader and tippet
  • Grasshopper dry fly
  • Tippet material
  • Scissors
  • Nymph fly
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a grasshopper dry fly pattern onto the tippet at the end of the leader and fly line on your fly rod. Attach the grasshopper pattern to the tippet with an improved clinch knot. Moisten the knot with water or saliva before pulling down tight. Trim excess line from the free end of the knot with scissors.

    • 2

      Determine the depth of the stream where you will be fishing, as well as the level in the water where fish are holding or feeding below the surface.

    • 3

      Cut a length of tippet material from a filler spool to use as a leader. Choose the leader length based on water depth and the level where fish are holding or feeding.

    • 4

      Attach the tippet leader length to the bend of the grasshopper fly hook with an improved clinch knot. Moisten the knot, pull tight and trim excess line from the knot.

    • 5

      Tie a nymph, such as a Bead Head Prince, to the end of the tippet leader with another improved clinch knot.