Tying The Snowshoe Hopper with Kelly Galloup

[@fillmorecorpus9102]

Thanks, this gives me the idea to put an additional snowshoe rabbit wing on my balloon caddis flies.

[@davesherbert6709]

Kelly: You weren't kidding when you said that this fly was unsinkable! Put some float dope on it and fished for 2 hours without having to reapply and caught about 20 bluegills and bass. Thanks for the tie!!

[@NHWildscapes]

Another great fly Kelly! Back to the bench for me to test all your great tips. 👍

[@jeffnotti9932]

Awesome fly man..I like it ... i'll try that for sure.. great lesson in materials and technique.. I watch Davie McPhail too.. I have pick up so much information from you guys it is astounding. I have been pointed in the right directions. Just OUTSTANDING... thanks for all the tying information J

[@mikekuczynski1552]

I like it , used snow shoe rabbit for years . Olives , PMDs , Caddis , RS2 and then for some unknown reason stopped using it . I guess its because there have been so many new materials introduced every year that I have to try them and at some point you forget until one day you open a box you have not used in years and there they are . Thanks for reminding me :-) never have done a hopper pattern like this but guess what .

[@Oholisfliesandfishing]

Great fly. I guess i like your videos so much because its kind of confirmation of some thoughts i have and i always learn new stuff.... Since i first saw snowshoe i fall in love with it. And i made few flies to suit my needs. One of them is inspired by hedgehog sedge. But i only use two stacks of hair... also unsinkable and easy to see.....

[@charlieboutin3341]

I could write paragraphs about every video you produce. Just want to say I’m getting better at dubbing with your advice. Next goal is spinning hair, thanks for tips. I try to tie every one you’ve shown just to improve my abilities, you are a master teacher. Also been curious about your flies on display on wall.. if I’m reading right, you tied a Zoo Cougar in 12 minutes.. Blindfolded?! Can’t fathom that when I can’t tie one looking at it. What is fly in shadow box under chicken? Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 🎣

[@Belbivdevoe]

Maybe I missed it but can you explain the best way to cut hair? I use scissors and seem to have issues.. should I use a razor blade?

[@robertbaker8164]

Kelly you are so right about the bottom i am a old man so what i going to say was told to in late 50 or early 60 the bottom catch fish the top catches fisherman

[@JJ-se5mx]

I’m liking this one

[@wyomingtrout5581]

This is obviously an adaptation of the original Turks Tarantula. I like the use of snowshoe rabbit for the wing, better floating qualities than the original calf tail but hey Kelly, give the originator of the fly the credit due

[@TheSlideinn]

It is really much closer to a Letort hopper which was about 40 years before the Turks and I did reference that one but your because it has rubber legs it is kind of like Guy's bug. But your right it is a lot like the Tarantula.

[@wyomingtrout5581]

​@@TheSlideinn Kelly your old buddy Jack Dennis is posting old fly tying videos on his KZbin Channel, there is one on the Turck Tarantula tied by Guy Turck himself. It is amazing studying the evolution of fly patterns. The Turck Tarantula was a modification of the original Madam X tied by Doug Swisher. The Madam X was extremely effective on the Snake River near Jackson Hole but hard to see when fishing from long distances from a drift boat. Guy modified the the Madam X by adding a robust body of Hares Ear dubbing "to create bulk and increase floatibility", a white calf tail wing and Krystal flash for visibility and to create the allusion of movement to the trout. The Turck Tarantula was an immediate hit and was eventually a Jackson Hole One fly winner. It remains effective to this day. It can be fished dry and as a wet fly on the swing. I really like your snowshoe hopper, I would add the Krystal flash to create that allusion of movement . It looks like a real winner for our local spring creeks and Flat Creek in the national elk refuge where a more subtle attractor is required. I can't wait to try it for our smaller stones like the yellow sallies, little brown stones and of course hoppers.

[@TheSlideinn]

@@wyomingtrout5581 I almost fished the little hopper in the One fly one year, I have used it down there for a long time, Cutties dig it. Little more history on this is that Doug's Mad X was an off shoot of the Michigan Skunk which goes back to the 40s. The Skunk is the first rubber leg dry that I can find record of, and is still a great bug but it sits low and people got used to the higher riding foam bugs, I still dig the low riders. I grew up with Doug and Carl back Mi., when they were both still living back there. Fished with Carl a handful of times but never Doug. Fished the hell out of Guys Tarantula back in Mi as well, the trout back there loved it. I never saw the buggy bodied one, always the floss body ones. Great bug here on the Maddy as well. Thanks for all the info, man. Kelly

[@wyomingtrout5581]

Kelly, here is a link that discusses the genesis and history of the Michigan Skunk flyanglersonline.com/fotw/2013/fotw20131216.php You Michigan anglers are quite the innovators. You should go on "Ask About Flyfishing" podcast and do a show on the history of various fly designs. You started young enough in the business that I dare say you have seen it all.

[@robertbaker8164]

That a great Bream fly

[@TheMB2333]

"GO-TO!!" 👍

[@allieone8518]

It looks like a variation of Turck's Tarantula! No tail and snowshoe (not calf tail) underwing.

[@kellygalloup6073]

Allie, a little bit, I think more like a Letort but the legs make it Tarantulaesh for sure. KG

[@allieone8518]

@@kellygalloup6073 Thanks for your response. Kelly, please note that I think you are a master tyer, and that I really like your work and personality!

[@termite122]

just come out and tell him hes sexy..dont be shy

[@marcelchaloupka]

What Vise are you using? Thanks

[@TheSlideinn]

It’s a Renzetti Presentation 4000

[@marcelchaloupka]

TheSlideinn thank you