Hopper Preshaped Foam Bodies
A simple, durable foundation for tying buoyant hopper patterns.
These pre-shaped foam bodies are cut to match the natural profile of a grasshopper, giving you a clean starting point for tying realistic terrestrial flies without the time spent shaping foam by hand.
Made from dense, lightweight foam, they provide excellent flotation while remaining flexible and easy to work with. The pre-colored bodies can be used as they are or customized with markers, paints, or printed details to create your own unique hopper patterns.
Simply cut a small slit along the underside, apply a flexible adhesive, insert the hook, and finish the fly with your preferred materials. Whether you're tying a simple foam hopper or a more detailed terrestrial imitation, these bodies make the process faster and more consistent.
For an even more realistic finished fly, combine them with Realistic Hopper Legs 3D.
Each pack contains 10 pre-shaped foam bodies.
Available in Tan, White, Gray, and Green, and three sizes:
- Small – suitable for hook size #10
- Medium – suitable for hook size #8
- Large – suitable for hook size #6
Hook size recommendations are approximate and may vary depending on the hook manufacturer and model.
Looking for maximum realism? We also offer Realistic Hopper Bodies with authentic printed detail and coloring.
Hopper Fly Fishing
Hoppers (grasshoppers) are ground-dwelling terrestrials from the order Orthoptera with powerful hind legs that enable them to jump energetically. They are large and bulky insects that often find themselves in the water, where they start drowning the instant they hit the water. When in water, they would start vigorously struggling, kicking, and splashing. Accurately imitating these movements of the fly on the water surface can be an imperative part of your presentation. Dead-drift floating with an occasional twitch can produce some ferocious strikes from sizable trout. Hoppers are big meals, so they usually 'bring the largest fish to the table'.
Adult hoppers hit their peak activity and reproduction from late June through October, sometimes even into November for some species. Great times for presenting this fly are during warm and breezy midday and afternoon. They are most active on the hottest days of the summer months. At the same time, these are the days when the water temperatures are warmest, and water levels are the lowest, the times when even the largest of fish come out for some easy, large meal.
Hopper Fishing Tip: When fishing with hopper patterns, throw your fly within a few inches of the water's edge. Moving a few inches closer to the bank could be crucial when fishing with these flies.