How to Tie the Grillo's Hippie Stomper Fly Pattern

Learn how to tie the Grillo's Hippie Stomper fly pattern, including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly-tying skills here.

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The Hippie Stomper is the brainchild of Umpqua Signature Tyer Andrew Grillos. Andrew is one tough dude, and this fly is nearly as indestructible as the man himself. We’re tying the Hippie Stomper in tan and olive to imitate grasshoppers, but do not hesitate to switch it up to reflect better on what trout are eating in your local stream. Yellow and black to imitate bumblebee? Why not! Let your imagination just go with all the different foam colors available. This fly is pretty darn near unsinkable and perfect for dropping a Copper John off the bend.

Material List

• Hook: TMC 3761 in size 10
• Thread: UTC 70 Denier in Olive
• Body: Hareline Thin Fly Foam 1mm in Olive
• Hareline Thin Fly Foam 1mm in Tan
• Tail: Moose Body Hair
• Legs: Hareline Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs Medium Olive
• Underbody: Veevus Gold Holographic Tinsel Large
• Wing: McFlylon in White
• Hackle: Whiting Dry Fly Cape in Grizzly

Step One

Start the pattern by running the thread from behind the hook eye to the bend.

Step Two

The first material we’re working with is moose body hair for the tail. Snip a small clump from the hide, put the fibers in the stacker, then tie on the bend with nearly a shank’s length of moose hair extending past the rear. Run the thread up to the initial tie-in spot, then trim the forward-facing excess material.

Step Three

Prepare the Hippie Stomper’s body by vertically trimming a hook gap’s width from the olive and tan foam blocks.

Step Four

Position the green foam on the shank and secure it by the tip near the initial tie-in spot. Make your first wraps loose, then gradually crank down as you wind down to the bend with evenly spaced wraps. Be sure to leave the rearward-facing foam intact.

Step Five

Trim a point into the tan foam's tip, secure it on top of the olive foam and run the thread down to the bend. Leave the rear-facing foam uncovered, and we’ll finish the body later.

Step Six

We’re now moving on to the holographic tinsel for the Hippy Stomper’s underbody. Tie a small strand by the tip, on top of the olive foam, at the shank’s base.

Step Seven

Complete the underbelly by advancing the tinsel’s tag-end up the shank with overlapping wraps. Secure the material before the eye, then trim the extra material.

Step Eight

Pull the tan foam forward, then secure it near the initial tie-in spot. Repeat this step with the olive foam, then run the thread up to the hook eye.

Step Nine

Make additional security wraps around the tan foam below the eye, then several more wraps over the olive and tan foam. Trim the forward-facing material to around three-quarters of the abdomen’s length.

Step Ten

Completely cover the foam between the first tie-in spot and the eye with thread.

Step Eleven

Now that the body is finished, tie the rubber legs on the shank’s side nearest you at their center. Pull the forward-facing strand around to the opposite side and secure it. The rubber material should now form a small oval in front of the Hippie Stomper’s foam head.

Step Twelve

The Hippy Stomper’s wing consists of McFlylon. Tie a small section over the olive foam at the material’s center, between the legs. Trim the rear-facing wing to around half the body’s length.

Step Thirteen

The grizzly hackle is the Hippy Stomper’s final ingredient. Remove the fuzzy fibers from the tip, then secure it on the abdomen’s side.

Step Fourteen

Wrap the feather’s tag section from the front of the rear wing until you reach the forward wing.

Step Fifteen

After clipping the excess hackle fibers, secure a whip-finish, and the Hippy Stomper is ready to hit the water. Remember, this fly packs a punch and is anything but subtle. No hippies were actually harmed in the tying of this pattern.