Morrish Hopper
Imitates: Adult grasshopper
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #8-12
- Best Season
- Late summer (July through September)
- Best Conditions
- Grassy banks, hopper-prone water, water above 65°F
- Water Temp
- 65-75°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 2X-3X
How to Rig It
Single dry slapped tight to grassy banks, or as the dry in a hopper-dropper rig with a heavy nymph 36" below.
How to Present It
Cast it tight to the bank with a hard splat — that splat is the trigger. Twitch it occasionally; let it sit. Big trout slam it on the rest.
Why It Works
Realistic profile — segmented foam body, mottled deer hair wing, and kicker legs nail the grasshopper silhouette. Floats like a cork even after a fish eats it. The red hot-spot under the head triggers reaction strikes.
History
Ken Morrish designed it in Oregon in the early 2000s as a more realistic, more durable hopper than the deer-hair patterns that came before it. Now standard in every Western fly shop from Montana to New Mexico.
Pro Tip
Grease your tippet too — not just the fly. Hopper takes are visual; if your tippet leaves a wake, big browns refuse it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is hopper season for fly fishing?+
Mid-July through September across most of the West. Look for grasshoppers in the streamside grass — when they're flying, fish them.
What size Morrish Hopper should I use?+
#10 is the most universal. Bump to #8 in late summer when naturals are biggest; drop to #12 on smaller streams.
What's the best color Morrish Hopper?+
Tan/yellow is the top producer. Pink works on Western tailwaters where pressured fish key on novel colors.
Not sure if Morrish Hopper is right today?
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