Looking for ideas....

[MadisonBoats]

Originally Posted by AL trout bum

What are your favorite foam patterns? I have a ton of foam sheets and all I know to tie with them is hoppers, beetles, or stealth bombers. They are the standard 2mm sheets in about a gazillion colors.
Thanks!

Some techniques I have tried are:

• Wrapping the foam around the shank and adding hackle.
• Folding over body hackle back to front of hook.
• Tying floating worm bodies, wrapping with wire and small hackle.

[AL trout bum]

Cool. Thanks!

[Troutman]

Heres another great craft foam body fly that is very easy and can be tied in a multitude of colors. A "UT orange" gurgler in a size 8 works well for bream I guess an "Auburn orange" would work as well!
A great fly that started out as a saltwater pattern but adapts in size for bream and bass sizes. I know a local bass guide that has lots of action with smallies on a white gurgler.
There are several ways to tie this. some people make them very simple , others add eyes and legs. I really like the way this one is tied with the foam body for extra floatation. These cast like a bullet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moQt5...eature=related

[DarrinG]

A couple years ago I found a foam hopper pattern tied by Juan Ramirez called the "Hopper Juan". It's a fairly simple tie and very durable...and catches fish. I've landed tailwater trout on it, to brookies in the mountains to bluegills in the warm water. Its fantastic.

Here is a link to Juan's blog which details the tying steps:

http://hopperjuan.blogspot.com/2009/...ing-steps.html

A few specks that liked the Hopper Juan:

[Stonefly]

Juan is on my regular reading list. His site has a lot of good ties.

steve

[AL trout bum]

I have seen the Hopper Juan, but have yet to attempt it. I've already tied so many hoppers, I need to wait until I lose some before I tie more. Because trust me, I will lose some!

[Wade Blevins]

Originally Posted by AL trout bum

What all can be used as a wing for hoppers? Deer body hair seems to be the most common. Anything other than hair?

Flex seal turkey feather was the most common for years to produce a wing look but it just doesn't hold up to the fish like flat foam will, Elk hair, Strike indicator material, packing peanuts...use your imagination. If it floats and is somewhat durable it can probably be applied.

[AL trout bum]

Originally Posted by Wade Blevins

Flex seal turkey feather was the most common for years to produce a wing look but it just doesn't hold up to the fish like flat foam will, Elk hair, Strike indicator material, packing peanuts...use your imagination. If it floats and is somewhat durable it can probably be applied.

Yea, I am going to try some with some poly pro I bought. I am also starting to incorporate a flat foam underwing. Before I had some shiny sheer ribbon material. I have ordered some wing material that I will cut and try out as well for the underwing. I think I am going to stick to polypro or deer hair for now.