Every year in late Summer, the aquatic insect hatches on our Western Montana rivers start to wane. The grass gets drier and the hay gets cut, pushing terrestrials towards the riverbanks. Of course, the most famous terrestrial when it comes to Missoula Montana Fly Fishing, is the Grasshopper. Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Guides throw hoppers late in the summer, and you should too.
Hoppers come in all shapes and sizes, but generally speaking, they’re big and tan colored. Common colors for anglers to throw in addition to tan are grey, pink, yellow and peach. Lets go over a few tips to make this hopper season more successful on the water.
Hopper Tips:
- Twitch It: When you see live grasshoppers in the water, it’s mostly because they got blown into the river from a gust of wind while they sprung up and down on the riverbank. When they land in the water, they know something is very wrong and they try to swim to shore on the surface. This is what twitching your fly looks like – a hopper trying to survive and get to dry land. I have noticed over the years that late in the season, bigger trout almost look for some kind of lifelike movement even more because they have seen so many attempts at drag free drifts.
- Mark It Up: Most hopper patterns are big chunks of foam in the aforementioned colors. If you look at real hoppers however, they have different shades of whatever color they are, some bars on their undersides, or even spots sometimes. Stand out from the crowd and grab a sharpie to do a little hopper artwork. Mark the bottom with some bars or spots and it just may be the difference in that big eat.
- Trail An Ant: Sometimes, the hopper can be used as an attractor to a really small dry the trout would prefer. Commonly, flying ant hatches in the late summer can be a favorite of trout. So don’t be afraid to trail a small (size 12-16) little black ant behind your hopper by 2 feet or so. You may be surprised at what comes up to sip it in.
- Fish The FAST Water: One thing that always amazes me during the peak of the dog days of summer heat, is how fast of water the trout sit in, and especially the big trout. They do this to get oxygen from the cooler water, and I believe they also sit there because most anglers don’t cast into it. Everyone is used to fishing the seams all year, they forget that in lower water and heat of the summer, fish commonly sit in water that would have been too fast for all the other times of year. Try some drifts in super fast, choppy 1-3 feet of water and hold on.
- Stay Confident: Hopper fishing generally is not about numbers. It can be, but most times you’re searching for opportunistic fish. Remember to trust the process and stick with it. Even if the action is slow, one eat can change your day (or the season). Some of the biggest fish all year get caught on hoppers, so you never know what’s going to happen.
Take these tips to enjoy a more successful hopper season for your Missoula Montana Fly Fishing trip. To fish hoppers and to learn more, give us a call to set up a day with a professional Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Guide from Montana Guiding Company. You will learn a lot in a day with a professional guide that you can apply to become a better angler. We will see you out on the water!
Our 2026 calendar is shaping up fast! Book your Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Guide today with Montana Guiding Company. We look forward to having you out on the water!
We’ll see you on the water,
Trevor Anderson
Owner/Outfitter Montana Guiding Company
Contact Montana Guiding Company today to hire a Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Guide to learn more about fly fishing in Montana.
About Montana Guiding Company:
Montana Guiding Company is a full-service fly fishing outfitter based in Missoula, Montana. Specializing in guided fly fishing trips on some of Montana’s most famous rivers, the company offers personalized fly fishing experiences to anglers of all skill levels. With decades of guiding expertise, Montana Guiding Company provides professional and customized trips on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Missouri rivers, and more.
Contact Information:
Contact Person: Trevor Anderson
Phone Number: (406) 239-7959