The Fly Guide | August 2025
The Fly Guide: Aug 2025
Hopper Dropper Technique
August in the Midwest can only mean one thing… Hopper season! In the late stages of summer, massive numbers of grasshoppers transform from nymphs to adults. During this time, strong winds push these fresh hoppers into local rivers, which leads to a gourmet trout buffet. It's a magical moment when the trout start feeding on these insects. Fish after fish slowly rise through the column, inhaling hopper after hopper. It’s a fly fisherman’s dream. If you’re looking to dial into the next hopper hatch, check out the tips below.
Time your outings: The hopper hatch is perfect for those who like to take their time and wake up late. These trout treats only begin to hatch when the sun rises and heats up, so take your time and enjoy breakfast. Keep in mind that wind also plays a factor; hoppers get pushed right off the bank and into the feeding lane when the wind kicks up. Now if you can find a warm and windy day, you’ll be in for an epic run of fish.
Hit the bank: Wind gusts can send hoppers tumbling into the water, where trout eagerly await their next meal. The fish are within easy reach, just a rod’s distance from the bank, making for an ideal fly presentation. However, it’s crucial to maintain a distance of 10 feet to avoid startling any fish in the feeding lane. When it comes to presentation, cast upstream and allow the fly to drift naturally with the current.
Add a dropper: It’s not a hopper without a dropper! Sometimes, the hatch isn’t that hot. If you’re seeing action here or there without a consistent bite, don’t be afraid to add a dropper to the rig. If you’ve never heard of a dropper, it’s simply a nymph that hangs under your dry fly. Making this rig is pretty simple. Start by tying your dry to the end of the tippet. Next, attach a foot or so of tippet to the bend of the dry fly hook via a clinch knot. On the tippet's free end, use a standard clinch knot to secure your dropper aka nymph pattern to the rig. The purpose of the dropper is to drum up fish that are lower in the column.
It’s all about options: Hoppers come in an array of different colors and sizes, so it’s best to come prepared with a variety of options. Showing up to the river with options can help convert those tricky fish to netted fish. Our hopper dropper assortment has you covered with classic hopper flies in proven colors that get the job done.
Downsize tippet: As a rule of thumb, if a fish refuses your fly, try downsizing your tippet. Trout feeding on hoppers can be very picky. You'll catch a few more fish once you crack the code on what tippet works. Start with 4x and go down as necessary.
Mid season Tune up
There comes a point in the season when your gear needs a tune-up. After a few hard weeks or months of fishing, it’s time to hit the reset button. To stay prepared for fall, you’ll need to care for your tools and make sure you're ready for the second half of the season. Don’t fret—this shouldn’t take too long. Check out the tips below to keep your gear happy.
Sharpen flies: Your flies have probably seen quite a few fish by now. If you want to keep your hooks healthy and land the fish of your dreams, you’ll need a hook sharpener. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with our sharpening tool, The Fly File. This hook file is easy to use and keeps your hooks primed for a big fish. If you’ve never sharpened a hook before, it’s simple. Start by placing the file at a 45-degree angle to the hook point, and gently move the file along the top and sides of the hook with light pressure. After 2 or 3 motions on each part of the hook, conduct a fingernail test. Simply take the hook point and scratch it across your fingernail. If it leaves a small mark, your hook is as good as new; if not repeat the process.
Clean & stretch your fly lines: Every fly line comes with a smooth, greasy coating that helps to generate line speed and launch line. Over time, this coating slowly disappears. Use a fly line conditioning product such as Loon fly line cleaner to make your lines last longer and cast further. The special formula rejuvenates your line by filling in cracks while lubricating the line's surface with a new slick coating. Fly conditioners are easy to apply. Simply squirt some on a cloth and gently pinch the fly line with your pointer finger and thumb. Finally, run the cloth up and down the entire line. You’ll instantly notice a change in texture. Now that you’ve cleaned the line, the next thing to do is stretch it out. Hang the fly line between two points for a few hours under minimal tension. This ensures the line takes on its original memory, thus removing coil and memory.
Practice tying knots: As you tune up your gear, it's a great time to tune up your knowledge. If you’re looking for a refresher, our knot-tying kit has you covered. After all, it’s easy to forget how to tie knots. The last thing you want to do is run through a knot-tying tutorial on the side of the river. A quick lesson with our knot-tying kit will up your confidence.
Create pre-tied leaders: The last thing you want to do is retie a new rig during a hatch or flurry of fish. If you want to spend more time fishing and less time fooling around with knots, it's best to prepare a few extra leaders.
Peak August Fly Fishing Tips
As the summer reaches its peak in August, the heat takes a toll on both the fisherman and the fish. Sweltering hot August days pose a challenging yet rewarding opportunity; regardless of what species you're after, you’ll need some grit and focus to catch fish. But don’t let that deter you from getting out on the water! There’s still plenty of fish for you to catch; check out the tips below to stay on the bite and keep yourself comfortable in the heat.
Dawn and Dusk: If you’re looking for a consistent bite window, it’s all about timing! The best times to fish in hot weather are early morning and late in the evening when air temperatures are at their coolest. At this time, fish spend their energy hunting in low light. That said, the dawn and dusk pose a short bite window, so you’ll want to be rigged up and ready to go as soon as you reach your spot.
Fish around the weather: It’s no mistake that weather directly influences fish activity. During the peak of the summer, a few weather events get fish fired up. A light rain is one of those events that immediately wakes the fish by cooling the water down and adding some oxygen into the mix. Fishing during or after a rainstorm can lead to an epic bite. Another condition that makes for a sound bite is cloud cover. If you can find a spot with extended cover, you’ll likely find fish laid up right in the shade.
Focus on holding areas: In the heat of the summer, fish tend to move away from shallow water areas in search of colder, deeper water. If you can find drop-offs and deep pools, you're liable to find fish. If you're trout fishing, you’ll need a long nymphing rig. As for fishing the salt, you can’t go wrong with a full sink line.
Ditch the waders: The last thing you want to wear in the blistering heat is waders; wet wading is a fun and easy way to stay cool on the water. For foot protection, try using an old pair of shoes. This will help grip rocks while keeping your feet cut-free. Additionally, be sure to pack some lightweight, quick-dry clothing.
Downsize your offering: Fish expend a lot of energy hunting for food in the heat of the summer and are more likely to pursue smaller baits that take less energy to eat rather than larger baits. When picking out the right flies for the job, aim for easily digestible smaller flies.
Be cautious when handling fish: Warm weather can stress fish out, so be sure to handle fish with care. This means taking the time to properly revive each fish. Simply support the fish by the tail and belly while holding the fish upright and into the current or tide. Next, move the fish slowly back and forth. Refrain from moving the fish backward to protect its gills.
Bring sunglasses: If you’re fishing in the sun, you must be ready with polarized sunglasses. Not only will glasses protect your eyes from the sun, but they also double as protection against a bad cast.
A Guide to better understand tippet
Tippet is the last line of defense between your fly and your leader, and there’s much more to this thin line than meets the eye. An in-depth understanding of tippet will help you create a natural presentation that leads to more fish caught and less time scratching your head in awe. Whether you're new to the sport or a vet, understanding the intricacies of tippet will help you become a more well-rounded fisherman. Let’s dive in.
Tippet VS Leader: Tippet and leader are two terms that can sometimes be confused. The funny thing is that they're made of the same fluorocarbon material. Tippet has a much thinner diameter while leader has a much larger diameter. When picturing a fly fishing rig, your leader will always be on the butt section, while your tippet is always the final stretch attached to your fly. Having a thicker section of line in the butt area of your rig helps to carry your line as it launches through the air.
Purpose: You’re probably thinking, “Why should I use Tippet?” In short, tippet provides a stealthier approach than leader because it's thinner and more flexible, which gives the fly a bit more action. Although it may not seem like much of a difference, using Tippet can boost your chances. We all know that fishing is a game of inches. When it's time to cast at finicky fish like trout or salmon minor adjustments can make a world difference.
Length: Tippet length depends on species and fishing style. We typically recommend longer tippets for spooky fish like trout, salmon, and carp. Longer tippets might be more challenging to cast however, the thin diameter of the line provides a stealthy approach to fooling fish with spooky tendencies. Conversely, shorter tippet material is ideal for fish like smallmouth and largemouth because they are less likely to spook.
Ratings: Tippet is rated based on a number and X scale, it comes in various sizes from 1x (13.5) to 8x (1.75). As you increase in scale, the strength rating and diameter of the line decreases. For example, 7x is thinner and lower in breaking strength than 3x. When it's time to go fishing, always carry extra tippet. If you're targeting trout, carry 3x to 6x, and if you're targeting smallmouth 3x to 1x is best. The cool thing is that tippet is super easy to store. Simply use a tippet spool to organize and clip your tippet directly to your backpack for easy access.
Attaching tippet to leader: To set up your rig you’ll need to tie your tippet to your leader. The best knot for the job is the blood knot. Start by overlapping the tag end of two separate lines, make sure you have roughly 8 inches of excess line to work with. Next, take one tag and wrap it around the other 4 times. Repeat this process in the other direction. Following, thread both ends through the loop and tighten your knot. Finally, clip the tag ends, and you're set to fish.
