Have you ever heard someone complain about their local stream not having good hatches? Sure, they fish there enough, but they would really enjoy fishing if there was a blizzard-like mayfly emergence. Or if there was a consistent, by-the-calendar caddis hatch. If you probe deep enough, you may discover that there actually are some tricos or something. But at that hour? And flies that size? It isn’t “ideal.”

Another virtual certainty for the stream without proper hatches is that there are probably terrestrials. While you, I, or our hypothetical conversation partner can wish we were stuck in a thick, hour long swarm of fluttering stoneflies getting eagerly slurped by large trout, chances are that we have something better in reality.

Ants, crickets, jassids, and any other number of non-aquatic bugs are basically in a constant state of “hatching” throughout the warmer months. The weather and time of day might dictate their activity one way or another, but they will almost always be present to some degree. And the king of the terrestrial is the grasshopper.

Some people love the grasshopper. They have boxes full of imitations, know exactly when the activity will be at the peak of its frenzy, and use the opportunity to target big fish looking for a protein-rich meal. To them, hoppers are the pinnacle of bug-meets-water-meets-trout.

I’m an ant guy, myself. But I do appreciate the hopper and dabble in the practice when I’m reminded by loud-rising fish, grasshoppers landing on my person, or vocal supporters chastising me for not taking advantage of the opportunity.

All that to say, its borderline stupid to not fish the things in July and August. Perhaps I, along with many other anglers, fish them the wrong way. Hoppers aren’t ants, midges, or even bushy size twelve mayflies. It isn’t about being delicate or making long, drag free drifts. Fishing hoppers is more like using a rocket launcher than a sniper rifle.

Here are five simple, brief, and unceremonious tactics to remember when fishing hoppers.

Loud Tea kettles, popcorn, and frying bacon all make unmistakable noises to let us know that food is ready. To a fish in an environment where grasshoppers are present, the splat of a thick bug on the water is a dinner bell. A gentle whisper of a landing isn’t natural. Consequently, a normal, subtle cast isn’t going to cut it. Get a wide tailing loop going (you know how to do that), and have that fly swing across the full parabolic arc so that it thwaps on the surface of the water.

Bank Yes, there are fish everywhere in a river. And, given the opportunity, a trout may eat a bug that lands in front of it regardless of its orientation in the stream. But the best bet for fishing hoppers is A) where they are likely to land, and B) where fish are likely to be looking for them. That happens to be as close to the bank as possible. The overhanging grass / undercut bank combo is, as they say, “where it’s at” for fishing hoppers.

Quick A long, drag-free drift through an entire run is a great way to fish tiny Catskill-style dries over selective trout. That has an incredible amount of allure and whatnot. But that isn’t the case with hoppers. Cast, splat, wait a second… repeat. That is the best way to do it. Pick your spots and hit them a few times. Don’t drift your fly into a second hole if you can help it. Pull your cast and recast before you hit that next hole. Like so many top water flies or lures, if you don’t get a hit in the first few moments you’re probably not going to get one.

Twitch This is the only caveat to the “quick” technique. Particularly if the water is still, calm, or in an eddy, a twitch after a one or two-second pause might trigger that feeding response. Like in any situation, a stripping retrieve could get a fish to chase. But the most likely scenario with wary trout involves a minute, realistic struggling grasshopper twitch or two. Watch a live grasshopper in the water. If your conscience isn’t defiled, grab a few and chuck them in to watch them squirm. (That sounds sadistic, now that I’ve written it.)

Float Budget hopper patterns aren’t necessarily the solution. You’re inevitably going to lose a few by snagging them on the bank, but don’t skimp on flies that float high. The splash of an inflatable pool toy is loud and sends ripples out over the water. You want your fly to accomplish the same thing. Deer hair is great, but foam reigns supreme here. And if you tie with foam, it is one of the fastest, cheapest, easiest ways to assemble a fly. With the type of presentations you’ll be making, a traditional natural fly will get waterlogged and lose its hopper-ness quickly.

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This summer, give hoppers another shot. Fish them like a real grasshopper, where real grasshoppers end up in the water. Don’t fret that you’re not in a swarm of teeny-tiny caddis on your stream, and revel in the glory of thick (and visible) insects.

For another, audio primer on fishing hoppers, I suggest the always-good 2 Guys and a River’s podcast on the subject.

A great read on the techniques for fishing and tying these patterns can be found in  Koch and Steeves’    Terrestrials: A Modern Approach.