I like to put a little dubbing ball at the hook curve to force the biots out. I can't remember where I picked that up, but it is a game changer. Plus, you can use it as a little hot spot if you want to put something bright back there. Thanks always for the vids.
A great job of demonstrating a fly that has some difficult steps! I was having a dickens of a time doing the tails on some Copper Johns this morning, and I remembered you had a video on it. I came back and re-watched it, and your closeup demonstration of positioning the tails was the reminder that I needed! Thanks!
Matt that is one impressive job of tying. The double wire wrap is totally cool. Great appearance. The wing casing really sets it off. Then the humpback resin is the final touch. Great looking fly. Your skills are incredible. Thanks for another great video. The bead information was very helpful. Just answered a question I had sent to you about the exact material.
Definitely a "super effective" fly, Matt. Tied a little heavier in black or purple variations, I really like it for steelhead. Not sure what will make it a "classic", but you're right...it's well on its way.
I've never even been steelhead fishing. I'm a lowly small stream guy. Maybe someday though! And you're right, maybe just a few more decades of people catching fish with it and it will be cemented in our history forever. :-)
Oh yeah, I've tied a few rubber legged Copper Johns. I thought they would do terrible because they look so unnatural. But they've actually done pretty well for me. Even the ones with white rubber legs. It's strange. :-)
Beautiful beautiful! That one is so so hard for me to tie. It always get too bulk and unaligned. Gonna practice more. Thank you so much for sharing with us
You can pretty easily ‘shape’ the lead wire with your fingertips and fingernails to eliminate bumps. With thicker lead wire, needle nose pliers or forceps do the trick.
Thanks Sarge! I have a few that I designed myself over the years and a couple of them work fairly well. Maybe I'll do a series of them soon. That is a pretty good idea. I think I'll do it. Now will anybody watch them? I guess we'll see. :-)
Always liked this fly. Could you give some advice, please? I purchased the book by Don't Kirk and was a little disappointed (only a little). The pictures and information are super. But, being a novice tyer, I was hoping for step-by-step instructions. I have ''The Fly Tyers Bible'' and it is very helpful. The materials list is quite complete. I just need help putting it together. Could you recommend another book that will help? I will, of course, continue to enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Louis, this is great advice. I should be more careful when recommending a book and at least mention if it is an instruction book or a pattern book. I've been thinking about adding some book reviews to the channel anyway. But until then, I just pulled five good books off my shelf that have nice illustrated instructions on steps for all kinds of techniques. Here they are in the order I would recommend: 1) Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying (Leeson & Schollmeyer), 2) The Feather Bender's Flytying Techniques (Clarke), 3) Orvis Guide to the Essential American Flies (Rosenbauer), 4) Tying Nymphs (Craven), and 5) The Orvis Fly Tying Guide (Rosenbauer). After you work through a few of the techniques in any of these books, something like the Fly Pattern Encyclopedia (by FFF) would be a great addition. 1,600 patterns that could keep you busy the rest of your life! Thanks again for the encouraging comment and advice. Cheers, Matt
The one's Matt mentions are very good. For beginners I like Skip Morris' Fly Tying Make Clear and Simple. He introduces new techniques in each new section of the text. Fly tying is really nothing more than learning new techniques and combining them to tie more and more complex flies as you progress.
Always hated these flies because of the stupid biots. I would use pheasant tails or tags instead. Though the last 2 years I am tying the pretty regularly the traditional way and actually caught my largest trout this year on a Sz 16 red one. I have about a dozen nymphs I use religiously and the Copper John takes two of those slots. One is a regular one in red or copper and the other is a jigged version for Euro-nymphing that I tie with 3 colors of wire and red biots to mimic Egan's Red Dart. The latter is an absolute killer. I use Copper, Green, and Black for the wire. Pain in the buttocks to tie but when done correctly it is a beautiful attractor fly.
I like to put a little dubbing ball at the hook curve to force the biots out. I can't remember where I picked that up, but it is a game changer. Plus, you can use it as a little hot spot if you want to put something bright back there. Thanks always for the vids.
You made that one look much easier than it really is!
You have a lot of great flies on your channel very nice
Hey, I appreciate it Matt! Thanks for stopping by. :-)
@@SavageFlies you bet
A great job of demonstrating a fly that has some difficult steps! I was having a dickens of a time doing the tails on some Copper Johns this morning, and I remembered you had a video on it. I came back and re-watched it, and your closeup demonstration of positioning the tails was the reminder that I needed! Thanks!
Thank you Pete! Comments like this keep me motivated to keep working on the channel and my own tying. 😁
Pete, I was taught to position and tie in one side at a time. Way easier to control one biot at a time.
Matt that is one impressive job of tying. The double wire wrap is totally cool. Great appearance. The wing casing really sets it off. Then the humpback resin is the final touch. Great looking fly. Your skills are incredible. Thanks for another great video. The bead information was very helpful. Just answered a question I had sent to you about the exact material.
One of my favorite, I like how you used two different colors of wire.
Thanks a bunch
Thanks Dave! Always appreciate you watching.
Good video! 👍
Hello,
Came from Sarge and I am happy to go to the threeninenine.
Love fishing and I am happy to enjoy from now on.
Cheers from Brainstrains
Thanks friend! I'll check you out too.
Definitely a "super effective" fly, Matt. Tied a little heavier in black or purple variations, I really like it for steelhead. Not sure what will make it a "classic", but you're right...it's well on its way.
I've never even been steelhead fishing. I'm a lowly small stream guy. Maybe someday though! And you're right, maybe just a few more decades of people catching fish with it and it will be cemented in our history forever. :-)
Nice fly I tie and use one very much like this with rubber legs nice tie
Oh yeah, I've tied a few rubber legged Copper Johns. I thought they would do terrible because they look so unnatural. But they've actually done pretty well for me. Even the ones with white rubber legs. It's strange. :-)
@@SavageFlies it is strange but they work great here on our steelhead
Super, a very nice variation
Another great fly to try!!
Oh, this is a great pattern Barbara! I've had some killer days with Copper Johns. Definitely put a few of these in your box. :-)
Beautiful beautiful! That one is so so hard for me to tie. It always get too bulk and unaligned. Gonna practice more. Thank you so much for sharing with us
Thanks Felipe! And yeah, the Copper John is still hard for me too. :-)
I can’t wait to tie this fly, but I always seem to mess up when it comes time to whip finish lol
Ha! I usually mess up the wire wraps and leave all sorts of lumps. :-)
I think I may try something like this on a dropper under a foam hopper or beetle.
Copper John is a stone fly attractor, right?
You can pretty easily ‘shape’ the lead wire with your fingertips and fingernails to eliminate bumps. With thicker lead wire, needle nose pliers or forceps do the trick.
I love this one. Do you think a turkey feather could work instead of a goose feather? Similar coloration, but with some speckles.
If you're talking about the biots in the tail, absolutely! You'd just end up using a bit less of the slips.
The “wings” are amazing! Do you have a fly named after you Matt? Are any of your videos a “personal” design? Would love to see it
Thanks Sarge! I have a few that I designed myself over the years and a couple of them work fairly well. Maybe I'll do a series of them soon. That is a pretty good idea. I think I'll do it. Now will anybody watch them? I guess we'll see. :-)
Savage Flies i will hahahah
I don’t have thin skin so I used a piece of black raven wing feather…..the trout won’t know! 😁😁
Absolutely right Mike! Just have fun with it my friend. :-)
Always liked this fly. Could you give some advice, please? I purchased the book by Don't Kirk and was a little disappointed (only a little). The pictures and information are super. But, being a novice tyer, I was hoping for step-by-step instructions. I have ''The Fly Tyers Bible'' and it is very helpful. The materials list is quite complete. I just need help putting it together. Could you recommend another book that will help? I will, of course, continue to enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Louis, this is great advice. I should be more careful when recommending a book and at least mention if it is an instruction book or a pattern book. I've been thinking about adding some book reviews to the channel anyway. But until then, I just pulled five good books off my shelf that have nice illustrated instructions on steps for all kinds of techniques. Here they are in the order I would recommend: 1) Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying (Leeson & Schollmeyer), 2) The Feather Bender's Flytying Techniques (Clarke), 3) Orvis Guide to the Essential American Flies (Rosenbauer), 4) Tying Nymphs (Craven), and 5) The Orvis Fly Tying Guide (Rosenbauer). After you work through a few of the techniques in any of these books, something like the Fly Pattern Encyclopedia (by FFF) would be a great addition. 1,600 patterns that could keep you busy the rest of your life! Thanks again for the encouraging comment and advice. Cheers, Matt
The one's Matt mentions are very good. For beginners I like Skip Morris' Fly Tying Make Clear and Simple. He introduces new techniques in each new section of the text. Fly tying is really nothing more than learning new techniques and combining them to tie more and more complex flies as you progress.
That's a great point Steve. And I'll definitely check out that book. Thanks!
Always hated these flies because of the stupid biots. I would use pheasant tails or tags instead. Though the last 2 years I am tying the pretty regularly the traditional way and actually caught my largest trout this year on a Sz 16 red one. I have about a dozen nymphs I use religiously and the Copper John takes two of those slots. One is a regular one in red or copper and the other is a jigged version for Euro-nymphing that I tie with 3 colors of wire and red biots to mimic Egan's Red Dart. The latter is an absolute killer. I use Copper, Green, and Black for the wire. Pain in the buttocks to tie but when done correctly it is a beautiful attractor fly.