Letort Hopper Fly Tying Instructions by Charlie Craven

[@silvertip8k278]

I remember almost 50 yesrs ago fishing on one of the limestone creeks in pennsylvania where this pattern was used...for me the realism(for then) was incredible... Thanks for showing how its done.

[@seanfalconer7182]

❤LOVE THIS PATTERN❤

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Very nice pattern.

[@wingman8447]

Good one. Thank you

[@sonja9001]

Thanks for squaring up the deer hair on video, I’m still to clumsy to use a razor though. I make my hopper to round. Sidebar, your Charlie Boy Hopper was dynamite on big gills at Pella today. It was so cool to see those bluegills with a mouthful of foam and deer hair. Oh, and crazy perch like never before out at Pella on jiggy damsel.

[@GeorgeSemel]

It's one of my favorite dry flies, 9 times out of 10 it's the first fly I put on from the start of the dog days to mid-to-late September. Oh, this morning I go up late 10 am it's late for me, when out to my car to go into town- and behold I was greeted by a black carpenter ant about a #18 so since I can't fish due to the catheter I am wearing for a prostate issue or at least wade fishing. I will be tying carpenter ants today. I once was in a hurry and I tied some Letort Hoppers and well I cut the hair just as you would an Elk Hair Caddis, muscle memory I guess. I fished them anyway and those shortcut versions worked just fine. Oh, and it was a nice 70 deg F this morning too. Spring is here in all its glory, the dogwoods are blooming and the Mother's Day Caddis hatches are here, I the doctor can sort out the issue for me this week. It's got to be a great time to be in Colorado! I am working on coming in September.

[@jonathanhollingshead2550]

I met Ed Shenk on the Yellow Breeches once years ago. He was really a nice guy and we sat and talked for about an hour.

[@lunkerjunkie]

on the swing

[@theinvasivespecies1119]

Was that belly hair or tail hair Charlie?

[@russelllieser4226]

Why do you start your thread in different spots? How do you determine the start point.

[@cachi-7878]

He’s using a pretty thick thread and to reduce the bulk at the front, he probably opted for starting the thread a bit farther back than usual. That’s my take but hopefully Charlie weighs in and gives us his reasons.