How to Tie a Red Copper John

The Copper John uses wire and peacock to create a general attractor nymph. The color of the fly is easily changed by adjusting the color of the wire. Red is effective as a trigger color for many fish species. The red Copper John is primarily used for trout, but it is also effective for bass and panfish. Although the fly is an attractor, the red color may be used to imitate the red chironomid. The insect has a similar profile and the bead head imitates the air bubble of a natural emerger.

Things You'll Need

  • Hook, Tiemco 5262 number 8-18
  • Gold bead
  • Red 6/0 thread
  • Abdomen,-red wire
  • Thorax, peacock herl
  • Wingcase, black thin skin
  • Legs, Hungarian partridge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Slide a gold bead on the hook and push against the eye of the hook. Start the thread at the one-half point on the shank and wrap the thread forward to the bend in the hook. Remove two red biots from a strip and position them with the tips curved outward. Place the biots on the bend of the hook to create the tail. Make several wraps of thread to secure the biots to the hook.

    • 2

      Wrap the thread down to the bead. Cut a section of red wire from the spool and place one end of the wire at the bead. Secure the wire with the thread and wrap it back up the hook until you reach the bend. Stop at the bend and wrap the thread back down the hook. Stop leaving one-quarter of the hook between the thread and the bead.

    • 3

      Wrap the wire down the hook shank until you reach the thread. Make several wraps of thread to secure the wire and cut away the excess. Cut a thin strip of thin skin away from a strip. Lay the thin skin over the abdomen and make several thread wraps to secure it to the hook.

    • 4

      Remove four or five peacock herls from a strand. Use the thread to secure the herl tips to the hook and wrap the thread down to the bead. Wrap the herls to the bead and make several thread wraps to secure them to the hook. Cut away the excess.

    • 5

      Pull the thin skin over the peacock thorax and make several thread wraps to secure it to the hook. Tie in seven or eight partridge fibers on each side of the hook. Place the feathers immediately above the bead. Use a whip finisher to tie off the thread and cut away the thread.

    • 6

      Mix a small batch of five-minute epoxy. Use a toothpick to dab the epoxy on the thin skin wing case. Leave the fly to dry for five full minutes.