This Copper John is tied on a size 12 scud hook using a black duck feather for the legs and with a drop of UV epoxy on the back. This is one of our favorite flies to fish as an attractor nymph. We’ve dedicated our entire lives to catching more. I also try to give the fly’s abdomen a bit of a taper and add some lead wire around the thorax for weight if necessary. This trout fly is designed to be fished on Dams & Reservoirs, Rivers & … This fly takes the traditional Copper John and moves it onto a curved body hook. Fly fishing involves making use of the equipment you have at hand to the best of your ability to catch fish. Barr is the most successful designer of commercially distributed flies in the worldThe Barr Emerger is an unrivaled pattern for western mayfly situations, and the Copper John has evolved into the most popular fly of the millenniumLearn Barr's methods for tying his favorite flies, with step-by-step instructions and clear color photos so even inexperienced tiers can create Think of this as the starting point for our website. (If you buy through the link we would like to say thanks, as we do make a commission on the sale). It is also a good idea to tie different sizes, from size 4 to 14. For full details read our, The Last Fly Fishing Gear Guide You’ll Ever Need. Most versions and patterns of the Copper John are still extremely successful for what they do, catch a lot of trout. You can fish the Copper John alone, as part of a tandem nymph rig, or as a dropper of a grasshopper or other large dry fly. I tied this one using deer hair for the legs and a size 4 nymph hook. Suffice it to say that here at Fly Fish Food, we tend to throw a curve at the "stand by" patterns. Five minute epoxy is rather viscous stuff, and for the Copper John, seems to slump just the right amount during the curing process. It drops very quickly, is shiny, and imitates some of the most popular trout meals in Stoneflies and Mayflies. You can read John Barr’s article on his Copper John here: http://midcurrent.com/flies/tying-the-original-copper-john/. It doesn’t take need additional weight to be used effectively, but a two fly system works very well with this nymph. The Copper John is a nymph tied from heavy materials, which normally is copper wire, which is how this fly get’s it’s name. It’s essentially built to be a trout catching machine. ( Log Out /  Copper John; Zebra Midge; First Fish of 2010 on Lee's Ferry; Free Fly Tying Videos! THE COPPER JOHN went through several design changes over a period of about three years beginning in 1993. Another way to fish … The book was well worth the price. The nymph was originally meant for western United States fishing, but anglers quickly realized that it worked very well across the States, and even around the world. Hope this article helped you out! Fish tend to inhale eggs, and a bead and hook setup ensures that you hook the fish in the corner of the mouth instead of burying a barbed piece of steel in their gullet. Change the color of the wire and you can have a box full of versitle nymphs. When used at an appropriate time with a good presentation, they are guaranteed to catch fish. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. This gives the fly a more realistic presentation, which I feel can lead to more fish at the end of the link. Click on the picture to enlarge it. For the legs, mallard feathers, deer hair or pheasant tail fibers. The big important thing … That is, the large foam dry and glittery Copper John will get a fish’s eye, but the third fly should seal the deal for picky fish. I was introduced to this fly pattern by Jurgen Brech, a member of the Scarborough Fly and Baitcasting Association and our “fly tying master”. Typically, a copper bead is in front of the thorax comprised of peacock hurl, feathers and thin skin. Barr tells how he developed each fly, gives tips on when & how to fish them, & explains how he fishes multiple-fly rigs with the Copper John as the center of a 3-fly system that optimizes fish-catching potential. The Tacky Flydrophobic Fly Box Review is here and we’re stoked to jump into it. December 11, 2013 KBarton10 7 Comments. Fishing with a Copper John can be most accurately compared to fishing with dynamite! If you were to rank the popularity of the Copper John Nymph, it’s up there with the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and the Pheasant Tail Nymph as the most popular nymphs for catching trout. The tying directions and the photos are great and the anecdotes are fun to read. Use them in a two fly setup with the Copper John on the end. For fly boxes, there are several different types of boxes. A Copper John in a size 10 hook should be heavy enough to cast on an ultralight rod and if you’re on a smaller creek, you can go down to a size 12 hook. Having a quality pair of fly fishing waders is an absolute must if you’re a dedicated fly fisherman or if you plan to step up your game and get a pair of waders that, Looking for a new fly fishing vest? Falling Short in 2009 2009 (53) December (4) November (2) October (5) September (3) August (7) July (7) June (4) May (7) Post was not sent - check your email addresses! When used at an appropriate time with a good presentation, they are guaranteed to catch fish. This is the Copper John! If you are able to master the art of nymph fishing, you can catch a lot of fish using the Copper John. I tie my own varieties of the Copper John using different materials: for t the tail goose biots, duck feathers or pheasant tail fibers. A great all purpose nymph from John Barr. Copper John is dressed to sink like a stone, rapidly descending to where the shy and big fish feed. Rainbow trout, Bass, Chubs and Salmon have taken this fly for me. The flare of the copper it sends to the fish entices the fish to bite, nearly all times throughout the year. … How to catch trout with the Copper John Nymph. We may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase through links on FlyFishandCamp.com. Whatever your preference or the conditions, next time you go fishing give the Copper John a try. The Copper John is … Barr tells how he developed each fly, gives tips on when and how to fish them, and explains how he fishes multiple-fly rigs with the Copper John as the center of a 3-fly system that optimizes fish-catching potential. Want to master Microsoft Excel and take your work-from-home job prospects to the next level? How much extra weight you need to add depends on whether or not you are using a plastic or metal bead for the head. It’s brother, the OG Tacky, is worth every penny but if you’re the type that just has to, Fly boxes are my favorite piece of fly fishing gear to buy. The setup for a bead and hook setup is simple: peg your egg two to three fingers above a bare hook. As you can see, the epoxy neatly covers that raggedy cut-off edge. Or not. Behind the body of the fly are two biots that sit snugly underneath a layer of copper wire. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature and we sometimes earn a small commission if the item is purchased. ( Log Out /  Nymph patterns represent immature insect forms which are water born and then hatch on or around the surface. Flies where I use a plastic bead will require lead wire, but when I use a metal or glass bead there is no need for extra weight. He lives in Boulder, Colorado. As a have a lot of flies that originated in the 1900’s, new versions of the Copper John Nymph have been crafted. I had been tying copper johns for years and got the urge to see the rest of John Barr's patterns. The fly fishing world can be made very confusing by the wide variety of flies available, particularly for the beginner. The “Hopper Dropper” is popular on Western Rivers Fishing with Two Nymphs . As you can catch a lot of trout catching more can not share posts by email forward between. And patterns of the fly enough action to attract fish that here fly. Fishing the hatch during the Spring, surely have a couple of these may. 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