nymph
Copper John
- Sizes
- #12–#18
- Imitates
- mayfly nymphs · stonefly nymphs · attractor
- Origin
- John Barr, Colorado, early 1990s
The Copper John is a heavy, flashy attractor nymph that sinks like a rock and catches fish like a dream. Its copper wire body, epoxy-coated wing case, and biots tail create a durable, attention-grabbing profile that excels in fast water. It is one of the most popular commercial fly patterns ever created.
Recipe
This is one dressing. Tie it in other colors to match the hatch in front of you.
Workbench
Variants
Swipe to see In box and Add
| Size | Bead | Body | In box | Add to box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #12 | 2.5–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Copper | — | — |
| #14 | 2.5–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Copper | — | — |
| #16 | 2.5–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Copper | — | — |
| #18 | 2.5–3.3mm · tungsten · Tungsten | Copper | — | — |
At the vise
Tie split goose biots for a tail, wrap a copper wire body, add a flashback wing case sealed with epoxy, and finish with a dubbed thorax and biots legs.
Tying video
Fishing now on
Rivers whose hatch chart names this pattern this month. Names and sizes only.
Not named on this month's hatch charts.
On the water
Fish the Copper John as the point fly in a double-nymph rig, using its weight to pull a lighter dropper into the strike zone. It excels in fast pocket water, deep runs, and plunge pools. The flash from the wire body draws fish from distance.
History
John Barr developed the Copper John in Colorado in the early 1990s, refining it over several years before it became commercially available. The pattern's combination of heavy weight, flash, and a mayfly-stonefly hybrid silhouette made it an instant hit. By the 2000s, it was the best-selling nymph in America.