How to Tie a Copper John

The Copper John is one of numerous effective flies designed by professional angler John Barr. The fly uses a wire body and peacock thorax to create a general attractor nymph. The Copper John is designed to quickly sink, and it is most commonly used to target trout. The fly is not difficult to tie, but the portions must be properly aligned in order to divide the abdomen and thorax. The color of the fly may also be adjusted by simply changing the color of the wire.

Things You'll Need

  • Hook, Tiemco 5262 size 8 to18
  • Thread, 6/0 black
  • Tail, tan goose biots
  • Abdomen, medium copper wire
  • Thorax, peacock herl
  • Wing case, black thin skin
  • Legs, Hungarian partridge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a bead on the hook with the narrow diameter hole pressed against the hook eye. Start the thread at the half-way point on the hook shank. Wrap the thread forward to the bend in the hook.

    • 2

      Remove two individual biots from a strand. Pinch the biots between your fingers with the tips curving away from each other. Hold them on the bend of the hook to create the tail. Make several wraps of thread to secure the biots to the hook. Wrap the thread forward to the bead, completely covering the hook shank.

    • 3

      Cut a section of wire that is roughly 10 inches long. Insert one end into the bead and make several tight thread wraps to secure the wire. Wrap the thread up the hook shank until you reach the bend. Completely cover the wire to ensure it is secured to the shank. Wrap the thread three-quarters of the way down the shank, leaving space between the thread and the bead for the thorax. Wrap the wire to the thread and tie it off. Cut away the excess wire.

    • 4

      Cut a thin strip of thin skin away from the patch. Hold the strip over the abdomen and make several thread wraps to secure it to the hook shank. Tie in four strands of peacock herl and wrap the thread to the bead. Wrap the herl to build a round thorax and tie off the herl at the bead. Cut away the excess peacock herl.

    • 5

      Pull the thin skin over the thorax to form the wing case. Make several wraps of thread to secure the thin skin at the bead. Cut away the excess. Cut eight partridge fibers away from a feather. Hold the fibers against the side of the hook and make several thread wraps to secure the fibers as legs. Repeat the process on the opposite side. Use a whip finisher to knot the thread and cut the thread away from the hook.

    • 6

      Mix a small batch of five-minute epoxy and use a bodkin to apply one drop of the epoxy to the wing case. Leave the fly to dry for five minutes