Tricos, I am not fishing Tricos! Ok Maybe

That is what I said when we got the report from Headhunters fly shop in Craig MT. But hey who can argue with 20+ inch rainbows rising to tricos, yup that wouldn't be me, the trico went on.

The last 3 days Jared and I fished 3 more rivers, Gallatin, Missouri, and Copper Creek. This trip was the first time I was able to spend a significant time on the Gallatin, and it was work every chilling, wet wading second. I think the coolest thing was Jared yelling "Dude this is a GOOD fish", as I turned around my eyes connected with a beautiful airborne brown trout. Hoppers, streamers, nymphs, it made no difference, the trout wanted to eat. After that it was off to Craig where we rented a drift boat for the ext 2 days on the Mo, Tricos, caddis, Ants, Hoppers, and Zebra Midges. I love that river, its huge, full of beautiful fish, and wide open every direction you look. After Day one on the Mo, I was outside the motel drinking a beer, one of the shop guys sparked a conversation on his way back to get a beer for himself. Interested in fishing for cutthroat? UMMM Hell yeah I am, after a few beers with the shop guys behind the shop "secret spot" Jared and I were off for a day of small stream Westslope Cutthroat, that will eat the biggest ugliest hoppers and foam flies you can throw. Ill take that.

Enjoy the rest of the pictures.

Featured Fly - Chernobyl Hopper

I guess its no surprise,  after being in Montana for a week fishing foam hoppers all day, that I can only do a hopper pattern for this featured fly. The Chernobyl Hopper has been one of my favorite hopper patterns, from years ago fishing in Maryland through August and September, so I had to tie a few for Montana; Orange, Yellow, Tan, and the infamous Montana Pink. It worked well, easy and fun to tie, and keeps your attention while fishing it.

Materials

Hook: TMC 2302 sz. 6 - 10

THREAD: UNI Thread 6/0 - Tan, or Black

Body: 2mm Foam - 2 colors 

Under Body: Dubbing to match bottom foam 

1st Wing: Krystal Flash - Color to Match Bottom Foam 

2nd Wing: Deer Hair - Natural 

Sighter: Bright Foam 

Legs: Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs - Choose Color 

Post: Hareline Para Post 

Wing: Saddle Feather - Grizzly 

Step 1: Starting from the front, dub the hook shank.

Step 2: After cutting your foam stack it, tie in both colors at the hook bend.

Step 3: Make 2 small wraps of the lower color, moving the thread about a 3rd of the way to the hook eye. Fold the top color forward, tie down.

Step 4: Tie in the krystal flash.

Step 5: Stack a small clump of deer body hair, tie it on top the flash.

Step 6: Add a small piece of foam for a sighter.

Step 7: Tie in rubber legs on both sides of fly.

Step 8: Make 3 sections of the first color of foam, Then fold the top color forward and tie in.

Step 9: Tie in the Para Post.

Step 10: Tie in rubber legs, giving the fly 4 legs on each side.

Step 11: Tie in a Grizzly feather for the Parachute.

Step 12: Wrap the feather 6 to 8 times, then tie off.

Step 13: Move the thread to behind the hook eye, whip finish and cut off. Trim the extra foam.

Step 14: Trim the foam, forming the body and head.

Finished Fly:

Beautiful Westslope Cutthroat with a Chernobyl Hopper in its mouth