Newbie with hopper question

[Joewoods2017]

Do you hopper guys find it better to put the hopper in the film and let it drift like a indicator, or are you banging right up against the bank which means you are constantly casting every few seconds hopping to a strike when the hopper hits the water. 

Another question is how far out are you keeping your boat?  Are you making really long cast to trying not to spook the fish?  Just boat in speed and line in another speed of current makes it hard to get a good drift.  Thanks for your help. 

[fishinwrench]

If it's a steep bank with overhanging limbs or weeds then shoot it right in there, give it a twitch (mend), let it drift about 10 seconds then pick it up and do it again 15-20 ft. further down the bank...and again....and again...until something happens.

If there's no overhanging stuff then just plop it right down about 2-3ft from the bank, or wherever the water is about knee deep. Give it a little twitch about every 5' of drift.  

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What Wrench said.  I still use the old dear hair hoppers I've been tying of years.  When they get soggy and sink into the film they still work.  I'm a firm believer in a hard splat. 

[Flysmallie]

Throw a live hopper in the water and watch how it acts. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

22 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

Throw a live hopper in the water and watch how it acts. 

PETA just put you on a "list"