Parachute dry
Hopper-Dropper
Buoyant nymph carrier
Trout · GraylingSurface
The hopper of a hopper-dropper rig — buoyant terrestrial indicator carrying a sunk nymph; a summer searching staple.
Fish this when
As the top fly in a two-fly summer rig on riffled water, searching a run blind with a nymph below while keeping a take-able fly on top.
Why it works
Its bulk and buoyancy hold a nymph at a fixed depth beneath it while staying visible and substantial enough that fish eat the indicator fly itself almost as often as the dropper.
Naturals it imitates
grasshopper over a nymph (rig pattern)
Typical zone & fishable range
usually
Surface
Film
Subsurface
Deep
Setup sensitivity: medium
Quick facts
Tying difficulty
Intermediate