Morrish Hopper

Cheech - May

In my opinion, the bottom profile of a hopper pattern trumps all other attributes... We'll start with that. Ken Morrish is well known for lots of very effective flies, so it's no surprise that this is one of his creations. Back when it first came out, people would ask all the time how to cut the body correctly, and the only real answer was either to cut them very carefully with scissors or to use razor blades. The reason I started to play with this one is that River Road Creations created a specific cutter set to considerably speed up the tying process. Once you get the bodies punched out and trimmed, It's really a pretty simple fly to tie - with one caveat... The legs. The original pattern uses round rubber legs with knots, which isn't too bad until you decide to tie them in. Again, the most important part of a hopper is the bottom profile, so it's critical to get the legs tied in at the correct angles. I started out using separate centipede legs like the original uses, but it was really hard to get the angles on the back legs to sit correctly, in fact, we scrapped the first video we did because the legs didn't look right. I went back to the drawing board and played with different knotting techniques until I found something that worked and was easily repeatable. You will see the slight modification on the back legs from the original as you watch the video. I also played with body trimming techniques until I found a good way to get a more angled back body angle, you will see that in the video as well. I also eliminated the notch in the back of the fly and at the head... Those were more about just saving time as I tied the fly, but feel free to notch away in your bugs. I will add this too - It's critical to have very sharp, smooth bladed scissors. The TMC deer hair scissors were my favorites, but the TMC Tungsten Razor scissors, and Dr. Slick Tungsten scissors worked as well. Foam selection turned out to be more critical than I thought as well - plain 6mm sheets were a bit more spongy to tie with than three sheets of glued foam, so we show how to glue sheets together. The glue between the sheets actually "stiffens" the foam ever so slightly. Overall, this hopper has been a LOT of fun to tie, and it's been a very fun challenge to try to achieve that perfect profile every time I tie it. The best part of this bug is that it's a super simple fly to tie once you get a few of them under your belt. ~ Cheech

Material List
  • Hook: TMC 5262 Nymph & Streamer Hook - 8
  • Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Tan
  • Body: Fly Tying Foam - 6mm - Tan
  • Indicator: Fly Tying Foam - 2mm - Orange
  • Indicator (Alternate): Rainy's Cross-Link Sheet Foam - 2 mm - Orange
  • Leg 1: Tarantu-Leggs - Dark Tan Black Barred
  • Legs 1 (Alternate): Speckled Centipede Legs - Medium - Speckled Clear Tan
  • Legs 2: Wapsi Round Rubber Legs - Medium - Mud Brown
  • Tool : Morrish Hopper Foam Body Cutter Set - Large Set (6 & 8)
  • Tool : Morrish Hopper Foam Body Cutter - 8
  • Glue: Fly Tyer's Z-Ment
  • Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier
    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

    $2.49
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

    8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

    $3.50
    Fly Tying Foam - 2mm
    Fly Tying Foam - 2mm

    Fly Tying Foam - 2mm

    $2.25
    Rainy's Cross-Link Sheet Foam
    Rainy's Cross-Link Sheet Foam

    Rainy's Cross-Link Sheet Foam

    $3.25
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

    $3.50
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

    Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

    $3.49
    Speckled Centipede Legs
    Speckled Centipede Legs
    Speckled Centipede Legs

    Speckled Centipede Legs

    $3.50
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

    Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

    $3.50
    Fly Tyer's Z-Ment
    Fly Tyer's Z-Ment

    Fly Tyer's Z-Ment

    $7.95
    Wapsi Round Rubber Legs
    Wapsi Round Rubber Legs

    Wapsi Round Rubber Legs

    $3.49
    TMC 5262 Nymph & Streamer Hook
    TMC 5262 Nymph & Streamer Hook

    TMC 5262 Nymph & Streamer Hook

    $11.20
    Firehole Sticks 618 Foam & Nymph
    Firehole Sticks 618 Foam & Nymph

    Firehole Sticks 618 Foam & Nymph

    $8.35
    Daiichi 1710 - 2X Long Nymph Hook
    Daiichi 1710 - 2X Long Nymph Hook

    Daiichi 1710 - 2X Long Nymph Hook

    $7.50
    Fly Tying Foam - 6mm
    Fly Tying Foam - 6mm

    Fly Tying Foam - 6mm

    $3.50
    Umpqua U103 Nymph & Streamer Hook - 50 pack
    Umpqua U103 Nymph & Streamer Hook - 50 pack

    Umpqua U103 Nymph & Streamer Hook - 50 pack

    $8.75
    Morrish Hopper Foam Body Cutter
    Morrish Hopper Foam Body Cutter

    Morrish Hopper Foam Body Cutter

    $27.99
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier
    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier

    Veevus Power Thread 70 Denier

    $4.50
    Mustad Signature R73 Nymph & Streamer Hook
    Mustad Signature R73 Nymph & Streamer Hook

    Mustad Signature R73 Nymph & Streamer Hook

    $6.99