Random HOPPER thoughts

[WadeK]

Usually August and early September are hopper time. This year I haven't gotten on any decent hopper bites. I know part of it is that I just haven't been able to get to any good hopper locations this season when the hoppers were hoppin'.
I got to thinking what if hopper spots could be created/enhanced? If some type of NATIVE plant seed was sown near waters that already have marginal hopper hatches, could they be turned into good, great, or AWESOME hopper spots? Hoppers have to be attracted to some particular kinds of plants. Could a "Hopper Mix" of seeds be created and hand crank broadcast spread like I seed my lawn. If it also appealed to cattle, maybe ranchers would be willing to share some expense. Can you imagine what it would be like if more locations had hoppers like this.



There are some marginal hopper spots near the Utensils and around Isabella, not to mention the Lower Kern. Maybe someone could cord off some areas along HC or the Upper and Lower O, where the predominant winds would bring on the buffet.

Obviously there might be some legal issues in certain areas and the mix would have to be native to the area, so as not to ruffle too many eco feathers, and fit under general good stewardship.

Just thinking out loud and asking for feedback?

[briansII]

Interesting thoughts.

First thing that comes to mind....... I don't think any rancher or farmer is going to want to encourage hopper/locust populations. Even on BLM land, the last thing a neighboring property owner would want, is someone "seeding" for hoppers.....even if it doesn't increase the grasshopper populations. Seems to me, the negative, environmental implications FAR outweigh any benefit for fly fishers.

My local rivers and creeks have an annual hopper hatch. It varies year to year, but they are always available to the fish. Funny thing is, certain rivers you can toss a hopper in, and it will float unmolested, out of sight. Other places it's a quick meal.

briansII

[lucfish]

Hopper fishing this year won't be as good because of the lack of rain. Hopper populations rely on alot of precipitation to florish. We've had so little rainfall in the late winter and spring this year (and last year too) that less feed for the hoppers which control there populations. Give it a good wet year and you will have hoppers back.

[WadeK]

I'm mostly just bemoaning the fact that I've only seen 2 hoppers hit the water this year, and they both floated out of sight.

[midger]

Cast your hopper patterns faster and make your own hatch.

I've never had that good of hopper fishing in California. I don't think most ranchers would encourage your proposal, but seagulls might agree. We had a good hopper "hatch" here in Idaho, but on the rivers I fish, the numbers were down from previous years probably because of the drier summer which means there wasn't as much vegetation for the hoppers to eat.

Good luck finding that elusive hopper fishing.

[softhackleone]

I had good success fishing a drowned hopper on a local Sierra creek a few weeks ago. But I'd have to agree with midger, Idaho seems to have better hopper hatches if you will than Ca.

[DrCreek]

I can't remember the last time I actually saw a true grasshopper that was on the water.

The hoppers are out there on the east side, for sure. They're everywhere. Saw gazillions of them as recently as yesterday, but the only hopper I saw that was actually on the water was my own, and it did MORE than "the trick."

[midger]

My daughter and I just completed an 8 mile high country lake turnaround here in Idaho and we kicked up 1000s of hoppers along the trail and down near the lake we went to. There were also multiple types from longer 1.5 inch gray flying ones to the shorter 3/4 inch brown hopping only kinds. I didn't actually see any fish feeding on them, but have no doubt that had I cast one into the outlet or inlet streams I would've turned fish as there were fish feeding on the surface.

Maybe you should just carry 2-3 dozen hopper flies and cast them out upon the waters you want the hopper hatch to exist on.

[Jimbo Roberts]

I subscribe to the snickers theory.
The theorem is easily demonstrated in any kindergarten class. At lunch after everyone has started eating take a large snickers bar and throw it in the middle of the room. Any child seeing it skid across the floor will go diving for it.
Fish are not that different from children. No matter what happening on the water you can always throw something big and have a chance that it will get eaten. Even if a good hatch is going many times something like a ribeye floating down the river will draw the biggest fish up to eat.
Most of my summer Cutthroat fishing was done with large drys when no hoppers or stoneflys were on the water.
But the fish remembered them and were eager for another big meal.

Jimbo