• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Deneki Outdoors Fishing Lodges

Alaska | The Bahamas | Chile

  • About Deneki Outdoors
  • Our Fishing Lodges
    • Alaska West
    • Andros South
    • Rapids Camp
    • Rio Salvaje
  • Deneki Blog
    • Alaska West
    • Andros South
    • Chile
    • Fish
    • Fishing Reports
    • Fly Tying
    • Gear
    • General
    • Guest Posts
    • News
    • Rapids Camp
    • Rio Salvaje
    • Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs

May 01 2024

Fly Tying: Copper John

One of the most iconic and recognized fly patterns ever, the Copper John is an effective pattern in various watersheds, conditions, and seasons.

Mr. John Barr designed this fly pattern to create a heavy anchor fly that looks buggy, all while sinking fast and keeping the smaller, lighter nymph, or nymphs in the zone. Hello to the Copper John.  He went through several variations before settling on the particular design we see in fly bins today. 

This variation has some subtle differences but is made in the same essence.  We used dubbin instead of peacock herl, making it more durable.  We also did not use the thin skin with the flash.  Like all patterns, you can alter and substitute for your heart’s desire.


This segment of Fly Tying is provided by Mossy’s Fly Shop, serving Alaskan’s since 2010. If you’re traveling to Alaska for a Fly Fishing adventure and. you need fly fishing rods, reels, lines, tips, flies, hooks, boots, waders, etc., to complete your Alaskan Fly fishing adventure or simply got questions? They have answers. Stop by and See Mike and Brian at Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage. Email mbrown@mossysflyshop.com or call (907) 770-2666. www.mossysflyshop.com.


Materials:

  1. Hook: Fire Hole 633 Sz 10  (this fly can be tied in sz 18-10)
  2. Beadhead: Firehole Tungsten 3/16 Copper
  3. Weight: .015 Lead Wire
  4. Tail: Goose Biots
  5. Abdomen: Ultra Wire Medium Red (You can use all kinds of colors)
  6. Wing Case: Pearl Flashabou
  7. Thorax: Peacock Black Ice Dub (originally Peacock Herl is used)
  8. Legs: Mottled Brown Hen Back
  9. Thread: Veevus V70 Red
  10. Epoxy:  Loon UV Thin or Flow

Step 1.  Slide the bead on and place the hook in the vice.  Using your lead wire, wrap the hook’s shank, appx 15 turns.  Push the wire inside the bead-head and tie down the lead wire.

Step 2.  Tie in your goose biots for the tail and secure it down.

Step 3. Tie in your ultra wire on the top of the hook shank.  Push the wire inside the bead head between the lead wire and the ultra wire inside the bead head so the bead is not loose.

Step 4. Using counter wrapping turns, wrap the wire forward.  As you wrap, pull the wire back towards the previous wrap to help make the wraps tight and well stacked.  Wrap up 2/3rds of the shank towards the beadhead and tie off.  Cut excess wire off.

Step 5.  Tie in your flash (and thin skin if used) to the top of the shank.

Step 6: Using a small amount of dubbing, wrap the thorax.

Step 7: Using a small clump of hen back feathers, tie in on each side of the thorax.  You want the wings to extend back to the back of the abdomen.

Step 8: Pull your flash over the top, tight, and tie it down.  Trip off excess.  Whip finish.

Step 9: Using the UV epoxy, build a small bubble over the top of the flash and cure. This is best accomplished by building up small amounts at a time.

Completed Fly:

Other Flies to Tie:

  • Purple Haze
  • Trout Spey Micro Sculpin
  • Fly Tying: Neil Creek Slider

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Plan Your Trip

Let our experts plan the fishing adventure of your dreams.
Contact Now

Search Topics

Subscribe to our newsletter

All Blog Posts

Recent Posts

  • 6, 2025 Father’s Day Gift Ideas Your Father Will Like
  • 4 Reasons You Should Come Experience the Kanektok River
  • No Better Time To Experience Bristol Bay with Rapids Camp Lodge
  • Fly Tying Tutorial: How To Tie The Hippie Stomper
  • 5 Tips When You’re Buying Your First Spey Rod Setup

All About Spey

All About Trout

All About Bonefishing

All About Gear

Best Posts

Footer

Deneki Outdoors

Mailing address:
200 W. 34th Ave.
#1170
Anchorage, AK 99503

Headquarters:
6160 Carl Brady Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99502

US Information and Reservations
800-344-3628

International Information and Reservations
+1 907-563-9788

Email: info@deneki.com

Our Lodges

Rapids Camp
King Salmon, Alaska

Alaska West
Kanektok River, Alaska

Andros South
South Andros Island, The Bahamas

Rio Salvaje
Puerto Montt, Chile

Deneki Outdoors thanks Peter Viau, Tosh Brown, Abe Blair, Kyle Shea and Kara Knight for the beautiful photography used on our sites.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

#denekioutdoors

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2025 · Deneki Outdoors · Privacy Policy · Site by 21 Designs

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we assume that you are okay with it.Ok