How to Tie a Cooper Fly

The Cooper Fly is an attractor nymph-emerger style pattern. The fly is popular in Europe and is used by some anglers in the United States. The Cooper fly only uses two primary materials and is simple to tie. Tying the fly requires beginner techniques and no special equipment outside of the fly-tying vise. The Cooper Fly is either attached to a heavy nymph and fished deep in the water or fished immediately below the surface.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • 6/0 thread
  • Deer hair
  • Synthetic dubbing
  • Instant glue
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clamp the hook in the vise. Start the thread at the one-half point on the hook and wrap it to the bend.

    • 2

      Cut a chunk of deer hair from a hide. Measure the tips of the hair to match the length of the hook shank. Hold the tips on the hook bend and make 10 thread wraps to hold the hair on the hook.

    • 3

      Pull the base of the hair fibers in a vertical direction and wrap the thread behind the fibers. Apply a streak of dubbing wax to the thread. Place a thin layer of dubbing against the thread and twist it with your fingers to make a permanent bond with the thread.

    • 4

      Wrap the dubbed thread from the hook bend to the eye. Taper the dubbing to create a thick section in the center with a narrow tip and tail.

    • 5

      Pull the base of the deer hair over the back of the body and pinch the hair against the hook eye. Make 10 thread wraps to secure the hair at the hook eye. Cut the base fibers leaving a short section extending over the hook eye.

    • 6

      Add a small drop of instant glue to the thread at the hook eye. Cut the thread from the hook to complete the fly.