Copper John - Flashy and heavy and fun to tie - McFly Angler Nymph Fly Tying Tutorial.

The copper John really does not mimic many species of aquatic bugs. In fact, it doesn't really resemble any of them. I guess one could say it somewhat looks like a dragonfly nymph, maybe even a stonefly. But that is a very abstract representation. However, even though its not an identical representation of any specific food that trout or other fish target in a river or lake, that doesn't mean it won't catch fish. In fact, despite it looking like no organic life, it catches fish very well, in fact sometimes better than hyper realistic flies. Part of this could be due to the curiosity of trout, sunfish, or bass, but another part could be to how this thing fishes. It is very heavy, and possibly catches more fish because it can get down quicker to where the fish are. Another reason is that it is very visible in the water, with its bright copper abdomen, and flash back thorax. Especially helpful when fishing stained water. No matter the reason of why this fly is effective though, because it just is. That being said, it is not the easiest fly in the world to tie, but once you get the hang of it, they can be tied rather easily and quickly. And no one can argue the fact that it is fun to tie.
Go and check out Risen fly rods at www.risenfly.com and type in Mcfly at checkout for your discount on everything in their shop. You will love their barbless hooks, beads, rods and reels. And pretty much everything they sell is top notch at great prices.
As always here is the list of materials I used on this fly.
Hook: Risen Barbless Nymph 9231 size 12 - www.risenfly.c...
Bead: Risen gold "brass" bead size 4.0mm - www.risenfly.c...
Weight: .015 sized lead wire - amzn.to/2RTqHHy
Thread: Black Veevus 6/0 - amzn.to/36xHZ2w
Tail: Brown Goose Biots - amzn.to/2RsneB1
Abdomen: UTC Ultra Wire (copper/medium) - amzn.to/2Gpqwi0
Flash Back: Saltwater sized Flashabou - amzn.to/2utIZaz
Thorax Casing: Baby Bug Back Black - www.flytyersdu...
Thorax Body: Peacock Hurl - www.risenfly.c...
Legs: Hen Saddle - amzn.to/38Craon
Resin: Solarez Thick - amzn.to/2RQpKjh
Tools.....
Vise: Renzetti Traveler - amzn.to/2t2FFmo
Bobbin: Stonfo Bobtec - amzn.to/38Ea7lN
Scissors: Dr. Slick all purpose - amzn.to/38DoLd6
Whip finisher: Dr. Slick brass - amzn.to/2tGYwDW
UV Light: Ultrafire UV Super Power - amzn.to/3fZFQRB
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[@scetis]

You are a great teacher and the quality of the video is amazing! Blessings…

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you sir!

[@kathrynjosefow1909]

I love your tutorials. As a beginner, they are so informative. I have my iPad on my bench and "play, pause, play, pause" several times until the fly is finished. Thank you.

[@McFlyAngler]

Glad you enjoy them and they help

[@kytrails]

Gotta try this! Would “Whiting Soft Hackle W/ Chickaboo - Mottled Golden Straw” contain the same type of hen feathers as saddle patch?

[@McFlyAngler]

I think the feathers would be too large for that unless your tying this smaller.

[@kathrynjosefow1909]

Fly porn right there. Thanks for the great video.

[@McFlyAngler]

LOL thanks!

[@angelvalentin8204]

It’s really a nice pattern thanks, Gby!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks man! Glad you like it! :)

[@riverrightoutdoors]

Great fly tie thank you🙏

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks

[@Alexander-zt5gh]

I watch your videos with admiration and healthy envy in the hope of one day getting closer to your art! Thanks, Alex.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you, very kind of you. I hope the videos help you reach your goal.

[@Flies_the_limit]

I find nothing about biots fun but nice tie!

[@McFlyAngler]

You and me both! Lol. Biots are challenging but the fly is sorta fun to tie. At least it’s not a prince nymph with 4 Biots to tie in. Glad you liked the tie thank you!

[@Flies_the_limit]

@McFly Angler I find the wing? Things? On prince nymphs fairly easy to tie in I just strugggggggle with biot tails

[@kurtbargar1618]

I have been using this pattern for winter steelhead in the lake Erie tributaries for many years. It closely matches the stone fly in Ohio rivers. I also use it for pan fish. The hackle gives it a gentle fall rate that can't be beat. Thank for sharing, cheers.

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh yeah the copper John has been around for a long time and always seems to work well. Thanks

[@tylerpearce2891]

Again man I love your fly tying video I struggle with the copper john but I think after watching this video it will make it more simple keep it up man you are a really good teacher

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! Yeah it’s a hard fly for sure bro, I actually still struggle with it at times. Haha! Just keep practicing and after you tie 25 of them it will come easier. But this for sure isn’t an “easy” fly by any stretch.

[@keiranrooker7981]

I’ve always had trouble getting the goose biots on using two at a time i found putting one on at a time can be a little less frustrating if you have fat fingers like me lol

[@McFlyAngler]

Totally get it, both ways work just fine

[@gregbishoff3759]

Seen this posted on the fly tying forum! How come their not accepting new accounts over there? Been trying!

[@McFlyAngler]

Not sure man...

[@j.taylor7361]

Can you make the ‘wings’ with pheasant tail instead of hen?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, you could if you want. Hen is more traditional for this particular pattern though.

[@АнатолийСатриванов-м6п]

Добрый вечер супер👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👌

[@kerrypitt9789]

One of the better videos I have seen on tying the Copper John. Well done! Great pattern as well!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! :). I appreciate it.

[@davidwahler1]

Nice vid. Purdy flies. Thank you señor

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed

[@tocayofishing6538]

Great video thanks for share

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you

[@duderoony]

Nice tutorial dude. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! Glad you liked it and it helped. :)

[@keiranrooker7981]

All a guide really is is someone who enjoys teaching people to catch fish just cause you don’t get paid doesn’t mean you can’t try to guide 🙂

[@McFlyAngler]

This is true. Would be nice to get paid though... ;). HAHA!

[@keiranrooker7981]

McFly Angler oh yea for sure man would love to get paid to teach someone how to fish love lol

[@McFlyAngler]

Would be the dream to do that for a living. But yeah no I still enjoy doing this.

[@KillerFuzzOutdoors]

Nice my nymphs need work

[@McFlyAngler]

All with practice. You don’t do much nymphing out this way. That’s pretty much all I did back in Colorado. Also working at the fly shop tying nymphs all day helped me. Just keep tying and you will get there. :).

[@rhinoD]

That was the best tutorial on this fly. Thank you

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh thanks! Glad to help.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Excellent tutorial on a truly great fly!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you

[@jjames5928]

Are you in New Mexico ?

[@McFlyAngler]

I used to live in NM, now I’m in Texas.

[@jasrobsny]

I cut thin skin with a small craft paper cutter

[@McFlyAngler]

For sure, that can work absolutely! I like the pre cut stuff though, even easier. Haha!

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler I got several sheets of amber skin on clearance from Angler's Covey so I had to find a way to cut all of it efficiently.

[@McFlyAngler]

Cool! Sounds awesome!

[@gregbishoff3759]

Great video as always!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you! :)

[@glenjo0]

Looking good!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks

[@jasrobsny]

Ever tied cased caddis?

[@McFlyAngler]

No, I’ve fished them before though and never had a lot of luck so I never really tried tying them.

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler I think only a few species actually form cases so you'd have to find some in the seine to make sense to fish; I'm making more of a point to seine out naturals to choose my patterns before rigging now as well as tying different sizes every time I'm on a partcular pattern. Tim has a Corded Cased Caddis pattern over on tightlinevideo.

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh I’ve seen a lot of cases caddis flies. Cool stuff, just never did it myseld

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler I just think Tim's corded dub technique is unique.

[@McFlyAngler]

For sure, he does some really cool stuff on his channel.

[@Gennbu17]

Been using that McFly code a lot lately!

[@McFlyAngler]

Awesome! good stuff there at Risen huh? I am glad I found such a good company to work with that also is offering my subs a discount.

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler Thank you, sir!

[@McFlyAngler]

Hey Jason, how you like that reel you got from them?

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler It's definitely high quality with all the high-end features you expect in the mid range where it was priced. Very smooth sealed drag/bearing, CNC w/durable anodized finish, large V cut arbor to hold lots of shooting line and full frame to prevent mono pull through; everything I was looking for. I'd say it was well worth the list price, but it's It's even better that I got it on clearance; however I still have to get a switch rod and heads etc before I can put it to the test. The only thing I didn't like was the font on the Risen logo; would have preferred it be blocky like the Behemoth reel or like their website logo or absent altogether.

[@McFlyAngler]

For sure, let me know how it works for your switch endeavors. Haha! If you don’t mind letting risen know you found them through me since you didn’t use the code. that would help keep them giving everyone 15% off. If more people use the code the more likely they are to keep working with me.