Coppertone

Fly Patterns
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1

Coppertone
Hook: Grip 14723BL #14
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Tail: Lemon woodduck barbs
Abdomen: Krystal Flash, copper
Wing: Z-lon, silver - tied sparse and short
Thorax: Squirrel - in split thread

Cheers,
Hans W

2

Hi Hans, you’ve not been around for a while, you’ve not lost your touch.

In the recipe you specify Z-lon. I’ve never really looked into the differences between different, what I will for want of a generic term call, poly yarns. Your use of it here looks to my eye to represent the sparkle from a wing, and for that it looks perfect. Do you have any guidance for which yarns you would use in which situation?

I don’t use a lot of these yarns but a quick look in my stock shows I have only two kinds. Lurflash’s Antron Body Wool, and Floating Polypropylene from Lathkill. Maybe I should be looking into this more.

Cheers,
A.

3

Alan, either of the two options you mention will work. That said, both poly and antron tend to be a little more opaque, where the Z-lon has just the right amount of translucence and crinkle I am looking for.

Cheers,
Hans W

4

Beautiful as usual. Is that some kind of soft hackle? You certainly set high standards. Keep the great patterns coming. Especially the videos. Hint hint nudge nudge.
Peter

5

Hi Peter,

It could be called a wingless wet - if not for the wing :cool:

Cheers,
Hans W

6

Hi again. I meant is that a soft hackle of some kind wrapped on the fly? I don’t think it’s all squirrel although it could be longer guard hairs. Anyway keep up the great work.
Thanks again Hans. It’s an education

      Peter
7

Peter, I did understand first time - yes, it could be considered a softhackle of sorts, and can certainly be fished as one. All squirrel for the thorax and hair hackle - it is the effect one achieves with split thread technique.

Cheers,
Hans W

8

Thanks again Hans. Like I said education.
Peter

9

I use a lot of copper tinsel and found Sulky brand threads available in fabric stores is essentially narrow Flashabou on a spool. I use it for bodies, ribs, and Flash as is. It can also be furled to create a very stable “twist” style rib which can be either a single color or a collection of the many colors available from Sulky.

Copper body softhackles are a serious favorite of mine for many conditions… A copper ptarmigan being an especial favorite…
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