1st Annual N.G.T.O. Fly Swap

Fly photos courtesy of Michael Lim.

Bullet Head Hopper

from the vise of Eddie Whitlock

The Bullet Head Hopper is tied on a size 14 barbless dry fly hook (Mustad 94845) using small diameter chenille as the body. Then, a modest amount of deer hair stacked, facing tips forward (about 1/2 " in front of the eye) is tied in with two loose wraps at the collar, followed by several tight turns at the eye. This method forms a "BB" sized ball. The hair behind the ball is trimmed close, and the remaining hair is pulled back and tied at the collar.

This fly makes a satisfactory caddis imitation, but probably represents grasshoppers or other buggy terrestrials (moths, etc.). Try twitching the fly during drag. I accidentally stumbled onto this technique. It works. The Hooch has yielded browns and rainbows to this fly, but I think it's most effective in the freestone streams of the Smokies.

Eddie Whitlock

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