Fly Tying Inventory
Shake & Bake Hopper
A high-floating, easy-to-tie foam hopper pattern designed by Red's Fly Shop guide Ricky Bobby and demonstrated by Kynslee Scott. The Shake & Bake Hopper is built for summer fishing when grasshoppers are active along river banks. Its foam construction provides unsinkable flotation, making it an excellent indicator fly for hopper-dropper rigs. The pattern's simplicity allows anglers to tie a dozen quickly before heading out for a day on the Yakima River.
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Materials
Terrestrial or dry fly hook (TMC 5212 or equivalent), sizes 6-12
Tan or yellow 6/0 (140 denier)
2mm closed-cell foam in tan, yellow, or chartreuse
Natural elk hair
Medium barred rubber legs, tan or yellow
Small piece of fluorescent foam for visibility
How to Tie the Shake & Bake Hopper
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook and start thread at 2/3 point. Cut a foam strip slightly wider than the hook gap and tie it in at the rear of the shank, extending past the bend.
Cut the foam strip to a consistent width for a clean body profile.
- 2
Step 2
Fold the foam forward and tie down to create the first body segment. Add one pair of rubber legs, splayed to each side.
- 3
Step 3
Fold the foam again and tie down to create a second body segment.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a small clump of elk hair as an underwing, tips facing rearward past the bend.
The elk hair adds a natural wing silhouette and extra flotation.
- 5
Step 5
Add a second pair of rubber legs at this point and fold the foam forward one more time over the thorax.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in a small piece of bright foam on top as a sighting indicator. Fold the main foam one final time, trim at the eye, and whip finish.
A bright indicator post makes this fly visible even in riffled water for hopper-dropper fishing.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp72JYZ5d1E
Credit: Red's Fly Shop