The pattern notebook · nymph
Copper John
How do you tie a Copper John?
Copper John is a nymph fly pattern for trout. Find its 11 materials and 20 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 3 of 5
- Target species
- trout
- Pattern designer
- John Barr
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Nymph Hook, TMC 5262, sizes 12-18
- Tungsten Bead, 3.2mm, Copper
- Lead Wire, .015"
- Thread (70 Denier), Black
- Brown Turkey Biots
- UTC Ultra Wire, Medium, Copper
- Gold Tinsel
- Wing Case: Black Scud Back
- Peacock Herl
- Partridge Feather
- UV Resin
Have some of these already? The app matches recipes against your inventory and helps you build a shopping list for the gaps.
Tying instructions
Slide bead onto hook.
Wrap lead wire behind the bead and secure with thread.
Lay down a thread base from behind the lead to the hook point.
Tie in two brown goose biots for the tail, curving away from each other, extending about half the shank length.
Secure the biots with thread wraps and trim excess.
Tie in copper wire at the base of the tail.
Wrap thread forward to the thorax area, creating a smooth underbody.
Wrap the copper wire forward in touching turns to the thorax area and secure with thread.
Trim excess copper wire.
Tie in mirage tinsel on top of the hook.
Tie in black scud back on top of the hook.
Tie in peacock herl with the ends butted up against the bead.
Twist the peacock herl and wrap forward to form the thorax.
Tie off peacock herl behind the bead and trim excess.
Tie in partridge feather for legs.
Pull scud back forward and secure with thread.
Pull mirage tinsel forward and secure with thread.
Trim excess scud back and mirage tinsel, leaving small stubs.
Whip finish and cut thread.
Apply UV resin to the wing case, covering the scud back, mylar tinsel, and the butts of the legs. Also apply resin to the copper wire to create a smooth taper.