Copper John - Can it replace a split shot?

[McFlyLures 0]

The Copper John is a very heavy fly that is great for getting down deep to the fish. I use this as my first fly in a tandem rig often to get my small midge down deep. Its very flashy and will get the trouts attention. It doesn't mimic any bug in particular, but is suggestive of many bug profiles. While there are many materials used in tying this fly, its really not too difficult to tie.

Hook: Umpqua U103 size 12

Thread: Black 8/0 sized thread

Tail: Brown Goose Biots

Weight: .015 size lead wire, and a bead head

Dubbing: Super Dry Dubbing

Abdomen: Brassie sized copper wire

Wing Case: Palmered peacock hurl, thin skin, and saltwater sized flashabou

Legs: Hen hackle feather

Epoxy: Solarez "Thick Hard" UV curing resin

Music: Sunny, funnysong, happiness - Bensound.com

[skeet3t 0]

First- my complements on the good video! It's great way to show the different steps to make a quality fly. Thanks. As for your title, I don't like to use split shot so the CJ should work in its place. The problem that might come come from any weighted fly is hitting the rod while casting. Graphite will crack when hit hard with split shot. Plus it takes a good timed cast to make it all work, IMHO. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[flytire 0]

lead wire in your recipe is wrong - should be .015 not .15

[troutah 0]

What is the purpose of the dubbing underneath the copper wire? I haven't seen that before.

[126lineman 0]

Nice video, well done. Only thing I noticed as pointed out, was the .15 lead wire. That would make a really chubby Copper John.

[McFlyLures 0]

lead wire in your recipe is wrong - should be .015 not .15

Thank you, I'll change that.

[McFlyLures 0]

What is the purpose of the dubbing underneath the copper wire? I haven't seen that before.

To bulk up and taper, instead of wasting thread.. It's also a bit quicker than wrapping 100's of times to get a good taper.

[whatfly 0]

So how much are you making off your youtube channel, if anything?

[McFlyLures 0]

So how much are you making off your youtube channel, if anything?

Youtube says Im not allowed to discuss specifics with others. But no, not much yet. Its only been up for 4 months... Why?

[Bruce M 0]

Deleted because it came across as a critique and it certainly wasn't meant that way.

 

Great tie.

[McFlyLures 0]

Deleted because it came across as a critique and it certainly wasn't meant that way.

 

Great tie.

What was deleted?

[Bruce M 0]

Just a comment on the video production that after posting and reading seemed to be a little nit picky, I don't like to be like that.

 

It's a nice tie and a nice video.

 

As for using the copper john to get your smaller and lighter nymphs down deep in place of a split shot or other weight.

 

I think it's fairly effective, I have done that when at the deeper pools with good results.

 

I don't see how a split shot would be any better and why not have another fly attached to your line, it's really serving to purposes in place of the weight just serving on purpose.

[vicrider 0]

First, all of us should be able to take critique if it's meant to be helpful. There is one thing in your video that confuses me (and I confuse easily). You speak of "palmering" your herl. My understanding has always been palmering is winding without touching wraps. My understanding is you'd palmer the hackle on a Crackleback or a Wooly Bugger but not on a dry fly or soft hackle. Comments.

 

And otherwise a nice video and I wish I could get the humped head to come together as well as yours, especially when you're down into 16 and 18 sizes.

[McFlyLures 0]

Just a comment on the video production that after posting and reading seemed to be a little nit picky, I don't like to be like that.

 

It's a nice tie and a nice video.

 

As for using the copper john to get your smaller and lighter nymphs down deep in place of a split shot or other weight.

 

I think it's fairly effective, I have done that when at the deeper pools with good results.

 

I don't see how a split shot would be any better and why not have another fly attached to your line, it's really serving to purposes in place of the weight just serving on purpose.

Oh, I didn't even see the comment... I didn't delete it. Maybe the administration did?

[McFlyLures 0]

First, all of us should be able to take critique if it's meant to be helpful. There is one thing in your video that confuses me (and I confuse easily). You speak of "palmering" your herl. My understanding has always been palmering is winding without touching wraps. My understanding is you'd palmer the hackle on a Crackleback or a Wooly Bugger but not on a dry fly or soft hackle. Comments.

 

And otherwise a nice video and I wish I could get the humped head to come together as well as yours, especially when you're down into 16 and 18 sizes.

Thank you so much for clarifying that. Its quite possible you are 100% correct. I taught myself how to tie, and never really learned the perfect terminology. I am not one to use good grammar in the first place anyway...

 

I was actually tying on a size 12. I did this so the video looked better. I do tie these on 16 and 18, but they don't look as good. Honestly I was a little frustrated that the flashabou was off center. Its tough to not be able to stick my head right over the fly when tying. If I did that it would get in the way of the video. So I have to tie from a far. Kinda tough... lol I tied like 4 of them, and this ended up being the best one.