Baile’s Panther Creek Hopper

Took this out on a rocky stream and it rode the current like a champ, never once sinking even in the rougher pockets. The foam body feels solid enough to survive a full season of snags, and those rubber legs give it just the right amount of twitch.

Tossed this into a fast-moving creek and it stayed put on the surface through three decent casts, which surprised me given how light it feels. The foam body took a few hard strikes without getting chewed up, so I’m already grabbing a second one for the box.

The foam body kept this hopper riding high through two hours of riffle water where my other flies kept sinking. Those rubber legs kick with the slightest twitch, and the fish absolutely crushed it on the first drift.