Bodkin / Patterns

Coppertop Duracell

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook jig nymph hook (Ahrex FW555 or similar), 12-16
  • Thread camel/tan 6/0

Materials

  • Bead Copper slotted tungsten bead (sized to hook)
  • Weight Lead wire .010 (optional) (5-8 wraps)
  • Tail Coq de Leon (ginger/pardo) fibers (small bunch)
  • Body Peacock/bronze UV Ice Dub or SLF Squirrel (thin dubbing)
  • Rib Small copper or pearl tinsel (optional) (1 length)
  • Collar Natural or dyed CDC (1-2 feathers)

How to tie it

  1. Slide a copper slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook, small hole first, and seat it at the eye; add a few wraps of lead behind it if you want extra weight.
  2. Start camel thread and tie in a sparse Coq de Leon tail about one shank length at the bend.
  3. Dub a slim, slightly tapered body of bronze/peacock UV dubbing forward, leaving room for the collar; rib it with fine copper tinsel if desired.
  4. Tie in one or two CDC feathers and either wrap them as a soft hackle or fold them into a collar behind the bead so the fibers pulse in the current.
  5. Sweep the CDC back, take a couple of thread wraps to set the angle, and whip finish tight behind the bead.
  6. The copper bead ('copper top') plus the CDC collar is the whole idea: fast sink with a breathing, buggy front end.

Tying videos

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