hopper legs

[ffjones]

has anyone used the orvis rubber hopper legs? what is your opinion if you have?

[RAW]

I saw those in the new Cabellas catalog. They say they float. Haven't tried them yet.

[Drake]

Seems a little spendy.

It'll be nice when they just sell a perfect mold of a floatable life like grasshopper and we just need to glue it to a hook. I can't wait...

[ffjones]

i got a pack and they are 5.00$ but you get 12 pairs of legs so, its not too bad. they tie on real easy and look really good i was just wondering if anybody has used them as of yet, i guess with them being so new that nobody has had a chance.

[Mason]

This concept seems wrong to me. I think the fly tackle industry is taking things just a little too close to the goo rod industry. Tying a fly is supposed to be about creating something that is lifelike, not tying on pre-molded plastic legs, or a pre-molded bead for an egg and the likes. Hopper legs should be made by the tyer. I even like foam but when you cut it yourself and create the fly from it. I don't know, maybe I am out of it but it seems just a little too much like the bass fishermans tour to me.

[Drake]

This concept seems wrong to me. I think the fly tackle industry is taking things just a little too close to the goo rod industry. Tying a fly is supposed to be about creating something that is lifelike, not tying on pre-molded plastic legs, or a pre-molded bead for an egg and the likes. Hopper legs should be made by the tyer. I even like foam but when you cut it yourself and create the fly from it. I don't know, maybe I am out of it but it seems just a little too much like the bass fishermans tour to me.
I agree, 100%.

[THeBLender]

This concept seems wrong to me. I think the fly tackle industry is taking things just a little too close to the goo rod industry. Tying a fly is supposed to be about creating something that is lifelike, not tying on pre-molded plastic legs, or a pre-molded bead for an egg and the likes. Hopper legs should be made by the tyer. I even like foam but when you cut it yourself and create the fly from it. I don't know, maybe I am out of it but it seems just a little too much like the bass fishermans tour to me.

Nothin' but love, but, I'm feeling a little squirrely and totally disagree. Did you grow the chickens/deer? Cast(?) the wire and shape the hooks? Hatch the silk worms and spin the thread? You don't even use silk?!?!

What makes the bass fishermans [sic] tour so bad that "we" don't want to be like "them"?

[Flyin Ties]

The legs look real, sure, but does a fish really care. i think fish that you catch with a decent looking hopper immatation don't. i personally think legs tied with feathers or ph-tail fibers look just as realistic. fish seem to like them?
just like any industry. new designs are always in the works.

[Drake]

What about for those like me? I am having a harder time with co-ordination do to a medical issue. So I not be permitted to tie using these because it is pre-formed?

IMO that way of thinking is just a little over the top and elitest. No offense.
Nothin' but love, but, I'm feeling a little squirrely and totally disagree. Did you grow the chickens/deer? Cast(?) the wire and shape the hooks? Hatch the silk worms and spin the thread? You don't even use silk?!?!

What makes the bass fishermans [sic] tour so bad that "we" don't want to be like "them"?
I am no elitist. I am much closer to a hack. When I first got into tying, I decided to take a class from WR. My instructor pretty much taught us that we should take material and try to manipulate it enough to mimic your “bug”. I guess that just stuck with me. I evolved into a more liberal tier. He liked to stick with natural materials as much as possible.

I like to use unnatural material, especially foam. I cut it, trim it, color it, tie it in, create a ribbed effect using thread, etc… to mimic the desired look. I have no problem with people using preformed bugs/legs, it’s just not for me. No offense, just my opinion.

Fanatic, I’ve seen some pics of your fish. I hardly believe you struggle getting your desired pattern to look the way you want it to look. ;-)

[RAW]

They use to make (and maybe still do) rubber grasshoppers that were molded right on the hook. I think I tried some as a kid but don't recall catching any fish with them. They would sink, (which isn't all that bad when fishing hoppers) but most hopper fishers like them on top, which is why fly fishers probably never used them all that much.

Some of the guides up on Henry's Fork don't even like legs on hoppers at all and I've witnessed some pull the hopper legs off of some patterns before fishing them.

I, myself, like rubber legs on my hoppers. They wiggle and are not rigid so they bend when the little fishies I catch eat them.

[Grizz]

Hopper talkin' in January? You guys work for the C.I.A? This is TORTURE!

peace

Raw, do you double up the rubber? tie it in at the neck, you get two front legs on each side & when you clip one off at the knee, you get some tatsty bouncing effect.................deadly. My hoppers have & keep their legs, for a while......chomp-chomp.......torture..........

[Drake]

Nice fish.

[nightfish]

I don't have a problem with the preformed legs. You can buy pre-knotted PT hopper legs. You can get pre-made eyes of all sorts, extended bodies. pre-cut foam bodies, and even peacock herl brushes. Or, if you don't tie, you can now buy pre-tied flies! Be a purist or be experimental...whatever works for you.

I haven't tied with them, but I did see a sample before they were on the market. They take markers well, and they do float. I suppose for the realistic tyers they'd be pretty cool, and I may try some if I can get some for cheap. But I wouldn't say they're lifelike, since they're too rigid to have any movement. Rubberlegs are probably best for that. They WOULD be good for tying a real looking bug to scare the girls though.


Hey fshfanatic...I was thinking about your tying problem tonight. Do you shake due to your grip on the bobbin, or because your arm is elevated? If it's in your arm, have you tried something for an armrest, so just your hand is moving?