Fishing flies ....
Yeah - after the first time I read that kind of tutorial for THE Copper John, I mentioned to my first fly tying mentor, John Stenerson of Idaho Falls, that I would never tie one of THOSE. John explained his six step approach ( starting with a hook with bead in place in the vice ).
Tie in the tails.
Tie in the copper wire behind the bead and tie it down to the shank back to the tails.
Wrap the wire forward to where the thorax starts, tie off, and trim tag end.
Tie in peacock herl and wrap forward to form thorax, tie off, and trim ends.
Tie in legging material, whatever you chose to use, tie off and trim excess, if any.
Whip finish. Head cement is optional.
FORGET the wing case.
FORGET the expoxy.
The simplified coppery john nymph is "tied in the round" so it will always present to a fish what they are likely to see looking at one of those fancified 31 step flies, and will certainly look like at least one view of the true Copper John, which is tails, wire abdomen, peacock herl thorax, legs, and beadhead.
Have you thought about what view of a Copper John a trout likely sees as it comes downstream at him ?? Not being a fish, I can't say. BUT my guess is that most of the time they see something that is very much like Stenerson's simplified "in the round" version described above.
Have you thought about what view of a Copper John a trout fisherman likely sees wherever it he sees that effective, pretty, famous, fancy, nymph extraordinaire ?? WOW - got to have some of those !!
Just saying ....
John
The fish are always right.
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Originally Posted by ScottP
