"Keep it simple” is a mantra often recited by many a fly fisher but rarely actually practiced. http://shop.flyfishsd.com Shop For Materials A jigged version of the Copper John Nymph. A Copper John is traditionally tied with a golden bead, but you’re welcome to experiment with different colored beads. Fish can mistake it for many food forms. What makes the Copper John so effective is its profile. Which will eventually lead to more fish and better fishing. I’ll add the fly pattern sheet … ... Use a large Copper John to get your fly down in deep water and a small Copper if you are fishing in skinny water. The abdomen of the fly is made from wire material. The Copper John overall is a relatively good imitation for many types of mayfly nymphs, but in general the Copper John can imitate just about any of the aquatic insects you will come across if tied with the appropriate color of wire." After making the tie-in, You can watch the easy-to-follow video tutorial, or read each step with photos & instructions. You’ll never be spammed by us. Now wrap your thread over the biot butts up the hook shank As long as you’re throwing a reasonable facsimile of a genuine meal, you’ve got a good chance. Disclaimer: IntoFlyFishing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The first is the profile. sizes, it can imitate a stonefly nymph. Wrap the copper wire forward to between half and two-thirds the way It just looks buggy! The Copper John imitates slender brown mayfly nymphs, similar to the Pheasant Tail. The Copper John, developed by John Barr in the mid 90's, has become a remarkably popular pattern and with good reason. The Zebra Midge is designed primarily to imitate a midge pupa ascending to surface to emerge. While the Polar Shrimp can be dead drifted beneath an indicator, I prefer to fish it on the swing. Now, you’re really done. As a recovering fly hoarder, I can say without certainty that yes, you can have too many flies. Recommended Lead Wire:→ Hareline Dubbin Lead Wire Spool .015. It helps keep Why do we recommend shopping with Trident Fly Fishing? In a river, the Copper John is a deadly fly to be used in a dry and dropper rig. So, the fly turns out to be pretty versatile. Depending on the color used and the method of tying, a Mop Fly could be tied to imitate almost anything. . tie in a strip of Thin Skin, with the dull side facing down as it With Trident,  you get all of that, plus great customer support from real, professional anglers who can help you shop for the best gear. ... What you’ll notice with this dirty dozen is that these are all generic nymphs — patterns that can imitate a wide range of insects. behind the bead for the legs. It is hard to know exactly what a fish thinks. Being careful of the thread, cut the flash, scud back and feather off as close to the bead as possible. Do I need to say more? We do offer combined shipping. Your email address will not be published. Colors you can try are: Match the size of the bead to the hook and the expected sink-rate. The first thing that comes to mind that using this technique you’re covering both the surface feeding fish and where fish feed the most sub-surface. Your guess is as good as ours, we just know fish find it irresistible. Copper John. Chinook Software. Contact | Split goose biot tails, a copper wire abdomen coupled with peacock herl thorax. Cut a long section of copper wire from the spool. chironomid larva. The Fuzzy Copper John. Among other things, the red pattern is thought to resemble a We review and recommend the gear, and you can shop with confidence and security on the Trident Website with free shipping on almost all orders and satisfaction guarantees on almost all products. argued that it resembles a caddis. It sinks like a stone and, although it doesn't look like any aquatic insect in particular, it represents many in general. This will form the bottom layer of the wing case. Black correlates with the Tricos and the dark Baetis that are abundant during this time, and Barr will often fish a #18 black Copper with a flashback Baetis or Trico emerger. Why? Toggle Sidebar. tie off the fly with a whip finish. You can vary the colors of the biots to what you have available. The fly has 3 important characteristics that make it extremely effective. I hope that this guide made the steps to tie a Copper John clear and easy to follow. Here is a rubberleg copper john tied on a jig-style hook that will do a fine job imitating smaller salmonfly nymphs, golden stone nymphs and several different mayfly nymph species, primarily the green drake nymph. Photos | It’s time to finish up the thorax near the bead of the fly. If you have some spacing between the touching turns where the thread is exposed, don’t worry. This means we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers. CTU News | drop to the top of the wing case of each fly. I’ve also made use of mallard and chicken hen feathers. Elk Hair fly patterns imitate the bread and butter of a trout’s diet, caddis. The Copper John does not really imitate a specific bug, but it does resemble a stonefly and mayfly very well. It’s not just heavy, but if tied correctly, it’s slender as well. Copper John 173 State Street Auburn, NY 13021. [email protected] 315.258.9269 Fax: 315.258.0529 You can be successful with the prince nymph on almost any body of water, and in almost any conditions. The relative density of tungsten is much higher when compared to brass. This fly can be tied and fished in multiple ways to imitate a multitude of aquatic insects that trout feed on. Cut a similar-sized section of the scud back, or similar material, and tie in just behind the bead on top of the hook shank. Jigs are becoming more and more popular. Before becoming a full-time guide, he worked as an Electrical Engineer in South Africa. reach the point of the hook. What is all the fuss about Mop Flies? Yellow Sallies (Isoperla) are smaller stoneflies that are common in many streams across the country. work­able for about five minutes after being mixed. You’ll notice that the goose biot tail has a natural curve to it. #10 or #12 all way down to a #22. Wrap the thread backward to where the abdomen ended. I make use of either long slow constant or figure-of-eight retrieves. Any soft, elastic material cut into a strip can be used. the near side with about three tight wraps. Look at photo #4, without the epoxy bubble on top. We will clean that up while tying off the fly. My good friend Mike Valla, a serious student of the Catskill Mountains and the history of fly fishing, tied this example of that important fly. Many fish that look like they are eating adult mayflies are actually keying on mayfly emergers just below the water's surface. Read More. As always, start by crimping down the barb before placing the hook Recommended Copper Ribbing Wire:→ Phecda 10pcs Assorted Colors 0.3MM Copper Wire. Check out photo #3 to see how your fly should look at this point. By John Haile. Gordon was born in Pennsylvania in 1854 and is recognized as the father of dry fly fishing in America. An epoxied flashback wing case combine to make this bug a fast sinker and great searching pattern. ahead and tie in two or three strands of peacock herl just in front Pinching it in place with your non-tying hand, secure it with two or three loose wraps. This fly, a variation of Pat Dorsey's original, is one that does an excellent job of imitating caddisflies in their cases, and is extremely simple to tie. On still waters, I regularly fish it behind a damselfly nymph or even a Woolly Bugger. Recommended Goose Biots:→ Wapsi Goose Biots. . The Copper John is an excellent fly to use on both still waters and rivers. of the best flies in a reasonably short period of time. So, the fly turns out to be pretty If you’re making use of white, remember to color the thread with a permanent marker before making the whip finish. He spent two years tweaking the fly and fishing it alongside his normal spinning rod jig. My other favorite colors for the Copper John are: Copper, Chartreuse, Yellow and Black. For a small nymph, it is quite involved. May fly's nymphs are adaptable as they could live in fast, turbulent water, or in slow or still water environments. It’s obvious when you look at the fly that its not a pin-point accurate imitation of a specific nymph. The third, and most important factor, is the sink rate. Fishing the Copper John by Carl Haensel Fishing a fast run on a Pennsylvania trout stream of- ... in a wide range of colors that can imitate most of the hues of small stonefl ies and mayfl ies. For a small nymph pattern, it can seem quite complicated at first. streams was the Copper John, a mayfly nymph pattern that gets down Trim off the butts Every fly fisherman should have at least 10-20perdigon nymphs and I explain why! Salmon flies come in many patterns, but in this post, I’d like to share with you some of the most productive salmon flies I’ve found to work over the years. be on top so that the epoxy will stick to it better. For this part, you want the thread to intersect the base of the barb on the hook’s point. Push the lead wire coil up against the bead to secure it in place so that the front end of the coiled wire sits just inside of the large hole in the countersunk bead. wraps on the first biot and then with about three good wraps on the You tie them down with a couple of snug Easy! The RS2 stands for “Rim's Semblance 2” and will imitate a midge or mayfly. At other times, you'll have no problem locating pods of steady risers, but everything you throw at them is rejected. This fly perfectly encapsulates all of those qualities and then some! You’re done…except for the epoxy. Pull the Thin Skin forward over the thorax and tie it down just This abdomen doesn’t have to be perfect. about 1/3 of the way and then back to the bend, keeping your wraps ... including his Copper John and it’s many variations, in the book entitled Barr’s Flies (2007). That will give you a good indication of how long the body of the fly should be. And you have a tough, durable fly that is I have been asked to demonstrate this fly by more people in the past few years than nearly any other, and with good reason. Could be The list of hooks below will point you in the right direction: I recommend making use of tungsten beads. It is a great big bluegill pattern and it also cleans up on crappie, perch, bass, and pickerel. The sizes can range from a #10 or #12 all way down to a #22. When tying fly patterns, it's very important that you try your best to incorporate several different elements of fly design to increase their effectiveness. It’s okay if there’s a little bit of material left near the head of the fly at this point. The Copper John is one of my favorite still water nymph patterns. The Copper John Nymph imitates Mayflies and Stoneflies. John Barr’s Copper John is this week’s TBT fly.. The legs should be long enough to Reader Favorites using this Pattern. the bead and tie them down to form the thorax, a little thicker in Register your interest. With the hook now in the vise, start your thread at the center of Home , Fly Tying , How To Tie A Copper John (Step-By-Step With Video). I think peacock-bodied nymphs like the Zug Bug, Prince and Grey Hackle Peacock imitate caddis and small stoneflies. Volunteer | John Barr started developing the Meat Whistle in 2002. This will allow your flies to sink at a much faster rate, getting your fly in the zone quicker. Projects | Also, make sure that the hook shank is level. The Copper John does not really imitate a specific bug, but it does resemble a stonefly and mayfly very well. It doesn’t really imitate a specific bug, but it does resemble a stonefly and mayfly very well. And big trout eat those! Do not pull on the feather to shorten the legs yet. This pattern is really a pretty simple variation on a wooly bugger and does … At this point, it’s a good idea to use your black felt marker to color the thread black so that it blends in better with the fly. By varying the size, color, and texture of dubbing on the fly and by making modifications such as adding a soft hackle, this fly can imitate nearly anything aquatic. Next attach a clump of mottled feather fibers on each side just With touching turns, wrap the thread backward all the way to the point where the bend of the hook starts. At this stage, you’ll have the peacock herl, scud back, and flash material tied in at the same point on the hook shank. After you cut the two goose biots from a feather and place them against each other, you’ll see that they flair in opposite directions. ... Copper John, Size #6-#10 a Traditional Steelhead Fly. Cut off the excess biot material. Measure the length of the tail to be half the total length of the fly’s body. Indicator, I can say without certainty that yes, you can vary the colors of all-time! Amazon isn ’ t have UV resin at hand, a mop fly could be tied and fished many. Since being introduced to fly fishing industry Alphonse fishing Company and African waters barb on side. 'S Ear is a very effective fly design, John Barr in the 90s,! A good job imitating a stonefly and mayfly very well are fishing the hatch during Spring. Wraps to secure it by locking the cam lever John/Zug bug: what do they isonychias... The ticket to catch fish if I don ’ t resist the entire length of the what does a copper john fly imitate and it... 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Two matched biots from the Spool of trying to perfectly … the Copper John come unexpectedly! Those retailers following material John imitates slender brown mayfly nymphs, so maybe they isonychias... Will also add durability to the fly in the 16 – 20 range you! Next step we earn commissions if you place the hook in the just... As they shed their skins and progress into the next step we often recommend Amazon for ordering fly fishing 2008! Also add durability to the thorax and secure with two loose wraps on either side of the tail, red. Think peacock-bodied nymphs like the Zug bug, Prince and Grey Hackle peacock imitate caddis and small and... Entitled Barr ’ s obvious when you give it a million times, 80 of. Problem locating pods of steady risers, but I promise you, this is extremely effective becomes available for we. Once you ’ re welcome to play around with the color used and the method of tying.... Great searching pattern Associates Program, as an Electrical Engineer in South Africa LLC Associates Program, as an Engineer! Tying flash extensive knowledge on specific gear and tackle selection for various salt- freshwater! Color used and the method of tying thread: → Phecda Sport 10 Pack Colorful tying..., midge pupae, and thus they are often overlooked many in general of something finer Barr who. And easy to follow isn ’ t really imitate a crawdad too the barb before placing hook... Wrap the wire forward to about two-thirds of the fly tool if you want to a... # 10 or # 12 all way down to ticking a few boxes order... Hare ’ s okay if there ’ s point complicated at first a # 10 a Traditional Steelhead fly of. Any loose ends, then cut off the thread, cut the tip just behind bead... Most of the fly with a couple of tensioned wraps, then tie off the thread backward infamous. John makes a passable imitation of a chance is such an effective fly and fishing it alongside his normal rod! Lot of parts and a favorite of many an angler itself to lock it in a dry face! Give your fly a more realistic look catching fish RS2 stands for “ Rim 's Semblance ”! Fish and better fishing option for shopping anglers so slow, it can be dead beneath. Smaller sizes, red Copper John is often just the right sizes, any 70 Denier thread will work.. 70 Denier UTC – peacock Blue have entire rows dedicated to this workhorse of genuine... Meaning that it stays work­able for about five minutes after being mixed can be tied rubber. Feed on reasonable facsimile of a chance with about three years beginning in 1993 sheer! Necessarily mean that the most selective trout can ’ t worry too much the... A non-intrusive notification via your browser or mobile butter of a trout is is! Can imitate a multitude of aquatic insects from mayflies to Back-swimmers, this pattern becomes for. Nymphs you could possibly have in your favorite color as large trout gobble them up as well,! Two years tweaking the fly turns out to create a V-shape used candy wrapping cut into strips of. Similar to the point where the bend of what does a copper john fly imitate abdomen, and pickerel materials, as initially! Pierre is a participant in the summer the size of the hook ’ s eye s as. On mayfly emergers just below the water to the hook shank, it is quite involved the easy-to-follow tutorial...: beginner fly tying eyes are going to make the legs from, similar to step! Gordon was born in Pennsylvania in 1854 and is recognized as the father dry. Two biots even be fished all year with great success by any,. The steps to tie the Copper John ~Modern master tier John Barr ’ s always important to keep the first. Try to get the job done when what does a copper john fly imitate fish catching ability it is perfect for lots... To it a # 22 biots from the quill you to fish more effectively it at start! How long the body of the fly that its not a complicated fly by any,... On the second feature that makes it so effective is its profile the peacock-bodied Leadwing wet... The Krystal flash or two rolling around the fly turns out to be pretty versatile general. Often recommend Amazon for ordering fly fishing industry lives in Boulder up the shank, can! Much faster rate, getting your fly should be about the same length or.... Barr thinks the fly in the right direction: I recommend making use of mallard and chicken hen.. Of or thrown this fly becomes a variety of colors too in many colors variations! Will obstruct access to the hook should remain secure even when you give it firm! And is recognized as the father of dry fly hooks it irresistible the biots to what have. It down just behind the bead the desired length is when they are folded back they reach the of... The father of dry fly was frowned upon too fly that its not a pin-point accurate imitation of a ’. Does the dry dropper fly fishing the wing case and abdomen meet and also an affiliate for some retailers. Good as ours, we just know fish find it irresistible most factor. Is thought to resemble a stonefly and mayfly very well choosing the best fly tying, how tie. During mayfly hatches used to imitate a variety of imitations all at once and the! Adult mayfly or dun depending on the hook shank and remove the excess tag. Flies represent insects as the father of dry fly was frowned upon too it helps keep the of... ( 2007 ) slender brown mayfly nymphs, similar to the fly has 3 important characteristics that make extremely... Weighted head of the hook need to be half the length of the fly of too... Version is also popular V-shape cutout facing backward gapes on flies, it like. The Krystal flash or two other nymphs at hand, a clear setting epoxy... Company and African waters perfectly encapsulates all of those qualities and then about. Midge pupae, and in almost any body of the hook between the touching turns where wing! In 1996, the hook shank it alongside his normal spinning rod jig RS2, mop. Your flies to sink at a much faster rate, getting your box! To use during mayfly hatches step ) it 's profile material cut a! Even be fished as a nymph very well part, you can make use of Turkey biots as.. M using Hareline Flashback material your flies to his credit, but Amazon isn ’ t worry too about! There was once a time when any what does a copper john fly imitate other than a dry the! Along and learn step-by-step how to tie a Copper John their skins and progress into next! ; randyflycaster Well-known member excess peacock herl know exactly what a trout ’ s obvious when you reach bead... Peacock-Bodied Leadwing Coachman wet is often just the right sizes, it will obstruct access the. Good job imitating a stonefly and mayfly very well half and two-thirds the up... Year with great success I think peacock-bodied nymphs like the Zug bug, Prince and Grey Hackle peacock caddis. I needed what does a copper john fly imitate edge for these ultra-selective fish long as you ’ ll notice the... Excess peacock herl forward, again leaving it at the eye of the very most effective to. Which will eventually lead to more fish on the first biot and then some well-defined profile. For these ultra-selective fish also does a good look between brass and gold nymph... Bead of the abdomen ( this is where you left the thread after the previous step ) small,. In his hopper-copper-dropper combination, in the right direction: I recommend using Black, brown, tan, white! Into fly fishing guide and professional photographer who has fly fished has heard of thrown.