The pattern notebook · terrestrial
Thunder Thighs Hopper
How do you tie a Thunder Thighs Hopper?
Thunder Thighs Hopper is a terrestrial fly pattern for trout. Find its 7 materials and 25 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 4 of 5
- Target species
- trout
- Pattern designer
- Eric Paramore
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Hook: Tiemco 5262 #4-8
- Thread: Veevus 8/0, Pink
- Body: 2mm Foam, Peach and Tan
- Wing: Polypropylene Macrame Yarn, White
- Legs: MFC Sexi-Floss, Barred Tan Small
- Hot Spot: 2mm Foam, Orange
- Thorax: Superfine Dubbing, Hendrickson Pink
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Tying instructions
Glue together two pieces of 2mm foam in different colors (e.g., peach and tan) into a sheet. 3M Super 77 spray adhesive is recommended.
Cut a thin strip of the two-color foam.
Cut a long angle on one end of the foam strip to form the hopper thigh.
Take a strand of barred tan small Sexi-Floss and tie an overhand knot in the middle.
Position the foam thigh in the vise with the point facing up.
Position the knot on the near side of the foam thigh, and tighten the knot down slowly at a 45-degree angle near the tip.
Trim one end of the Sexi-Floss close to the knot.
Remove the foam thigh from the vise.
Secure the hook in the vise.
Start thread behind the eye and create a smooth thread base to the bend of the hook.
Apply a small drop of super glue to the thread base at the bend.
Cut a body from the two-color foam using a River Roads round end Chernobyl cutter, or similar.
Pinch the front end of the foam body to compress it.
Measure the body against the hook shank to about half the shank length, and pinch the foam at that point.
Set the pinched spot on top of the glue at the bend and tie down with four turns.
Square the body on the hook and ensure it's straight up and down.
Bring the thread forward to 1/3 shank length from the eye and fold the foam body over, securing it with a few vertical turns.
Cross the thread back and form another segment, securing with a few vertical turns.
Tie in a small piece of orange foam on top of the body.
Tie in a clump of white polypropylene macrame yarn on top of the orange foam.
Fold the black foam over the wing and secure it with a few wraps.
Trim the foam indicator and wing to the desired length.
Dub the thorax with Hendrickson Pink Superfine Dubbing to cover the thread wraps.
Whip finish the fly behind the head and trim the thread.
Apply a drop of super glue to the thread wraps to secure the fly.