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The Foam
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| This Hopper uses ultra-lightweight 2lbs per cubic foot closed-cell EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) foam. It would be great if you could buy this foam. But you can't. I've been using lightweight foam for fly tying since 1990 or so, when I first got some as an experimental boat seat material. But you still can't buy it retail, for some reason. It's hard to believe I've been tying with this stuff for almost 20 years now, that I've been talking and writing about it all that time and you still can't buy it retail.
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| The closed-cell foam you can buy at fly fishing stores is dense and heavy by comparison. Ultra-lightweight EVA foam is available at a variety of wholesale sources, but not at any retail sources I'm aware of.
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| Some day you'll be able to buy this foam. It will make you smile when you do.
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Final Steps
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| As you tie this fly you have to make loose wraps that don't cut
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| through the foam. When first whip finish off, the fly will not
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| be secured to the hook. It can still twist this way and that on
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| the hook. Put a small drop of ZapAGap on the underside of
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| the thorax to secure it to the hook. Put a small drop or two
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| of thinner ZapCA on top, at the base of the wing fibers, and
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| at the base of the kicker legs.
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| Wait ten seconds or so and then you're done.
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| If properly glued (don't use too much) this is a long-term durable fly.
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| And (if tied with 2lbs. per cubic foot foam) it will float like no
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| other fly you ever fished with.
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Foam on beading needle
Dimple Abdomen
Hook and Elk Hair Wing
Foam Kicker Legs
Bobber Hopper
Sew in Rubberlegs