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David L. Darnell

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Hoppers
« on: June 08, 2009, 09:48:55 AM »
these are going to Deer Lodge, Montana for field testing by RonS.






Anybody see any changes I need to make before RedDog and I head out in August ?
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RonS

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2009, 10:17:05 AM »
Nice. 

Those should do just fine. Not today though. It's snowing like crazy today.  32F

It's quite refreshing.  ;D
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Leo deMonbreun

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2009, 10:20:33 AM »
Dadburn global warming!!
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Steve H

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2009, 12:25:41 PM »
David, those are sweet!

Ron, sounds like a good day for fishing.  ;)
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toddro

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2009, 08:22:21 PM »
I'd be glad to field-test that top right hopper (brown body) this summer in The Cascade Mountains for 20"+  Cutts....  :)
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David L. Darnell

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2009, 08:26:22 PM »
PM me an address and I'll fix you up ;D
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jkilday4

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2009, 06:30:50 PM »
Very nice! 

As for changes...just make sure you spray them with the WD40 before fishing... ;) :D
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adamtn

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2009, 08:35:21 AM »
nice flies. did you use a foam cutter for the bodies or just cut them freehand? if you used a cutter, what model cutter is it? i like the taper of those bodies.

 You might try a flexifloss leg on those. i use it for almost all of my rubber leg patterns, nymph or dry. The flexi floss gives a lot more movement on the surface than the round rubber
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bd

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2009, 06:43:31 PM »
Wow, David.  Those two in the top picture may be the best looking hopper flies I've ever seen.  I wish I could tie like that.

bd
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MikeA

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2009, 06:42:14 AM »
Agreed, those look great!
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TWiles

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2009, 08:06:40 AM »
I remember the Salt River in Star Valley (about 30 miles outside of Jackson WY)---a meadow limestone spring creek lined with tall grasses and willows.
You could throw a hopper to an undercut bank with blades of grass drooping to the waters edge...and the cutthroats would absolutely devour a foam hopper.  Some were up to 20".  It only had browns and cutts, no bows. I had atleast 5 moose encouters while fishing it...one of my favorite streams ever.

Your flies were made for that River....you should take them there and find out ;)
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David L. Darnell

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2009, 10:20:57 PM »
Thanks for the nice comments, about a year after I got started tying my wife started her three year battle with breast cancer. I had lots of times I could not make noise for days. We had a two story home, I would tie under the bed room, keep an ear out for her needing help (chemo) and let her sleep. Would go on for days at a time. So I got lots of time in on the vice, plus I just love to tie, even 24 years later, still enjoy my time at the vice.

Travis, I know the stream you speak of , drive along it on 189 ever time I come up from Salt Lake City. Have you ever went back to the springs that run backwards? I keep thinking I will but the hopper hungry trout are calling.

Toddro, I dropped you a package in the mail on Thursday. Enjoy and share some photos of your trip.
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toddro

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2009, 11:14:43 AM »
Sweet = thanks David.

Like Travis, I have a similar spot in mind on a river in the Wash. St. Cascades.  A walk down the trails to the river just sends hoppers scurrying everywhere.  One of my favorite runs has some downed trees over the far bank where the big cutts lie in the heat of the day enjoying the shade.  A hopper that is slapped down on the water and send under those trees will produce as 20" cutt just as sure as I'm sittin' here!
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"A passion for steelhead is a hard ride. It is all consuming. God help the woman, man, or child who hopes to compete for some small claim to the passion in the angler so stricken." Bill McMillan, Foreword- A Passion for Steelhead

RonS

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2009, 08:43:35 AM »
Still no fish up and very few hoppers around however, the tan one works when it does double duty as a streamer stripped back up stream along the bank.   ;D

No pics but three 10-13" creek brownies day before yesterday. 
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Yesterday, I was at the bottom. I was at the bottom of a valley, in the river. Then my eyes hiked up the mountains to the snow capped peaks. I thought, "When I am at this lowest place I can be, standing in a river, everything is looking up."

mrl0004

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Re: Hoppers
« Reply #14 on: July 02, 2012, 03:57:33 PM »
Quote from: David L. Darnell on June 08, 2009, 09:48:55 AM



Sorry to dig up an old post guys, but at least it's relevant to the times. David, I just saw this. Incredible ties! How did you do the back legs?
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