The Copper John is one of the most widely used trout nymphs in modern fly fishing. Designed by John Barr, it was created to sink quickly, remain durable, and imitate a broad range of aquatic insects rather than one specific species. Its weighted construction makes it especially effective as the point fly in a nymph rig or as a dropper beneath a large dry fly. Copper Johns are commonly tied in copper, red, green, black, and blue, with different colors and sizes working better depending on local insects and water conditions. One of the main tying challenges is building a smooth, evenly tapered body while keeping the fly slim enough to sink efficiently.
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Recipe
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Hook · TMC 3761 or similar, size 12-22
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Bead · Tungsten or brass bead to suit your depth, about 1/8 inch
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Thread · Flat Waxed Nylon Thread - 70 Denier or 8/0 - black · Black
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Tail · Stripped Goose Biots in brown · Brown
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Weight · Lead wire, .02
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Body · Soft Wire in Copper · Copper
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Flash · Pearl Tinsel · Pearl
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Wing Case · Fino Skin or Thin Skin · Black
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Thorax · Peacock Herl
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Legs · Partridge Feathers