Copper John Nymph

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Copper John Nymph

I can’t remember how I came to begin fishing the Copper John, but I do know it’s now become my favorite nymph pattern.

Looking back through my trip diary this little fly has been successful on just about every river or stream I’ve fished. It gets down fast and generally stays pretty close to the bottom, however in faster current it will swing up at the end of a drift (down & across).




MATERIALS
HOOK:                 Black Magic #D12-#D14
THREAD:              Uni Thread 8/0 (Camel)
TAIL:                     Brown Goose Biots
BODY:                  Fine Copper Wire
THORAX:             Peacock Hearl
WING CASE:       Brown Stretch Back (3mm) + Flashabou & Epoxy
LEGS:                   Partridge
HEAD:                  Gold Bead

TYING INSTRUCTIONS


STEP 1. Slide a bead onto the hook and secure in the vice. Wind on thread and wind on 5-7 turns of fine lead wire.


STEP 2. Cover the lead wire and continue to wind thread down the hook shank and form a small ball at a point just behind the hook barb, catch in the copper wire just in front of the thread ball.


STEP 3. Bring the thread up the shank a little and catch in 2 opposing Goose Biots, then wind the thread down the shank until just in front of the thread ball (the thread ball helps keep the biots separated) Hint: soak your biots for about 10 min in warm water before using them, this makes them supple and easier to work with.


STEP 4. Take the thread forward to a point a couple of mm behind the head then wind the copper wire forward in close touching turns, and tie off approx 2/3 up the hook shank.


STEP 5. Tie in 2 strands of Flashabou. Make sure they are central on top of the hook shank and the top strand covers the bottom one evenly.


STEP 6 Catch in the stretch back and wind the thread back down the shank to a position approx 1/3 the shank length.


STEP 7. Tie in two strands of peacock hearl and wind the thread forward to a position just behind the head.


STEP 8. Bring the Stretchback over the hearl and lock in down with thread. Make sure the Stretchback is central over the hook shank. Then bring the two stands of Flashabou centrally over the Stretchback and lock them down with a couple of tight turns of thread. Trim off the excess.

 
STEP 9. Select a good even partridge feather and prepare it by trimming away the centre section.


STEP 10 Before mounting the partridge “legs”, wet them with saliva, as this makes them easier to tie in.


STEP 11. Hold the partridge evenly along both sides of the body and tie in. Trim off the excess and whip finish.


STEP 12. Complete the fly by applying a little 5 minute epoxy to the wing case.