Bodkin / Patterns

Copper John

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Advanced · 11 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard nymph, 2x long, 14-20
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Brown goose biots (2, forked)
  • Body Copper wire (wrapped tight)
  • Wingcase Thin Skin with epoxy (folded over)
  • Thorax Peacock herl (3 strands)
  • Legs Brown hen hackle fibers (swept back)
  • Bead Gold tungsten bead (1)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the bead on, mount the hook, and start thread.
  2. Tie in two brown goose biots at the bend, forked, about half a shank length.
  3. Wrap the copper wire body in tight, touching turns to the 60% mark. Every wrap should click against the last with no gaps. Wire shows every flaw; make every wrap count.
  4. Tie in a strip of Thin Skin at the front of the wire body, pointing rearward.
  5. Twist 3 peacock herls into a rope and wrap the thorax.
  6. Add a few brown hen fibers on each side as legs, swept back.
  7. Fold the Thin Skin over the thorax, tie down, then dome the wingcase with a drop of epoxy or UV resin. That glossy bubble is the pattern's signature.
  8. Whip finish behind the bead.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of Copper wire: Red wire — Red Copper John, top variant, very popular; Chartreuse wire — Chartreuse Copper John, great attractor; Green wire — Caddis imitation color; Black wire — Subtle, good in clear water; Gold wire — Flashier than copper
  • Wingcase instead of Thin Skin with epoxy: Thin Skin with UV resin — Faster to apply than epoxy; Flashback tinsel with UV resin — Extra flash under the resin; Black Scud Back with epoxy — Darker wingcase
  • Thorax instead of Peacock herl: Peacock Ice Dub — More durable, same color; Black dubbing — Simpler, dark thorax
  • Tail instead of Brown goose biots: Brown turkey biots — Cheaper, similar look; Brown hackle fibers — Quicker to tie
  • Bead instead of Gold tungsten: Copper tungsten — Matches copper body; Black nickel tungsten — Sleek modern look

Other versions

10 more in the app: Fischer's Flies, Barr's Original with Epoxy Wingcase, Fly Fish Food Tie, Barbless Beadhead, Chartreuse: Classic Recipe, Chartreuse: Classic Recipe (2), Red, Black, Rubber Legs Beadhead, Beadhead.

Tying videos

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