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
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
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier

Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier

$3.49
Speckled Centipede Legs
Speckled Centipede Legs
Speckled Centipede Legs

Speckled Centipede Legs

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

Fly Tyer's Z-Ment

$7.95
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
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

$7.99
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
Mustad Signature R73 Nymph & Streamer Hook
Mustad Signature R73 Nymph & Streamer Hook

Mustad Signature R73 Nymph & Streamer Hook

$6.99
Tiemco Tungsten Carbide Razor Scissor
Tiemco Tungsten Carbide Razor Scissor

Tiemco Tungsten Carbide Razor Scissor

$109.99
Daiichi XPoint X710 - 2XL Nymph Hook
Daiichi XPoint X710 - 2XL Nymph Hook

Daiichi XPoint X710 - 2XL Nymph Hook

$9.99