The sight of millions of hoppers getting about the paddocks gets us excited about this time every year. It looks as though with a return to normal spring conditions we are going to enjoy a boom year for grasshoppers and every fly fisher should be excited at the prospect.

I took these photos yesterday on November 14th, 2005. While driving along the river to one of my favorite stretches of river I noticed dozens of these little critters all over the bonnet of the car. They were jumping out of the way of the oncoming subaru and ending up on the roof/bonnet/bumper, the perfect spot for a few photos to be taken.

So enjoy them and remember it is not long to go. Soon the fish will be on them and we will again have some terriffic fishing with large dry flies.

Antony