Hopper Time!

Posted By on June 24, 2011

Hoppers on a mesquite branch at Ray Roberts

Our “jump-from-May-straight-to-July” weather has really changed a lot of the biological processes around the lake.  Bugs that should be hatching are non-existant and others are attacking in Biblical proportions.  Suck is the case now with the grasshoppers.  We usually get a big hatch every 3 or 4 years, and usually in mid-July; but this is the largest volume of hoppers I’ve seen in some time!

What does this mean for fishing?   SURFACE ACTION!

When the hoppers are blown into the lake by a good SE to SW wind (and we’ve had enough of that!), everything in the lake comes up to shore for an easy meal.  Bass, carp, crappie, drum, and even catfish will cruise the shoreline looking for a #6 foam hopper.  The best location is the SW shoreline between the dam and the marina when the wind is S to SW.  Just walk along shore until you see a large fish cruising and get a cast in front of them.  Give the hopper a short series of “pops” just to get their attention and then wait.

BIG WARNING — catfish are the pickest fish to get to take on top.  Use 3X fluoro and a VERY realistic hopper if targeting them!  Worth the fuss, however . . . a 5 pounder

Categories: Fishing Report
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About the author

Joel Hays has been a professional guide since 1990, and has guided professionally in Colorado and Texas.

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North Texas Fly Fishing Adventures with Joel Hays

Imagine wading through ten inches of clear water,trying to be as quiet as possible. Fifty feet ahead is a pod of large fish "tailing" on the flat. You strip out fly line, make the cast, and pull your fly in front of the lead fish. After agonizing seconds the fish spots the fly, rushes forward for a quick grab, and feels the hook. The silence is broken as the fish accelerates across the flat, quickly exposing backing on your screaming reel. Sounds like a great day on the coast, or even an exotic bonefish flat, right? Actually it's a great description of the usual day my clients have fishing for Carp on the flats of Lake Ray Roberts where many clients are blown away by the water clarity and the actual ability to sight cast along miles of flats. Big spooky fish in shallow water. They fight and tail like Redfish and can sometimes rival Bonefish in nervousness. This is an EXCELLENT WAY to hone your flats fishing skills and test your "eyes" where it's more about stalking the fish than simply stumbling upon them. You will be a better flats angler!