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  • Fly Tying Tutorial: Heavy Metal Rubber Leg Copper John
  • Brian Wise
  • fly fishingfly tyingfreshwaternymphingvideo

Fly Tying Tutorial: Heavy Metal Rubber Leg Copper John

The Original Copper John Is a Staple in Most Fly Boxes — The Heavy Metal Rubber Leg Copper John Is a Next-Generation Take On This Classic Fly Pattern

Using the Nymph-Head Heavy Metal tungsten beads that are 15% heavier than standard tungsten beads of the same size and come in a wide array of colors, the possibilities for this pattern are endless. You can fish it in a variety of ways, from fishing it as an anchor fly in a Euro setup to a regular attractor under an indicator, fish this fly DEEP — trust me, it will get there.

Fly Recipe

  • Hook: Kona Wet Fly Nymph size #10
  • Bead: Nymph-Head Heavy Metal tungsten bead size 5/32"
  • Wire: .025 Lead Wire
  • Tail: Sili-Legs
  • Body: Ultra Wire
  • Wing Case: UV Chewee Skin
  • Over Case: Flashabou
  • Thorax: Ice Dub 
  • Legs: Sili-Legs
  • Wing Case Gas Bubble: Loon UV Resin Thick

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About Brian Wise:

Brian Wise is a fly fishing guide in extreme Southern Missouri. His mainstays are the wild rainbow trout and large predatory brown trout of the North Fork of the White River, but he is also a self-proclaimed smallmouth junkie and loves the seasonal striper fishing as well. He's been the head guide at River of Life Farm for over a decade and has been featured in print such as Southern Living Magazine, Outdoor Life, Fly Fisherman, Field and Stream, Rural Missouri Magazine, on television shows such as NBC’s Today Show, Outdoor Channel’s Ultimate Outdoors, several appearances on Outdoor Channel Outfitters, and is a Field Producer for Chasing Waters on the Pursuit Channel. He was a 2007 qualifier for the coveted Best of the West distance casting competition and won the Bennett Springs distance casting competition with a whopping cast of 106 feet. When Brian isn’t guiding, he is fishing with his two sons. His fly tying and fly fishing videos are quickly making their way to the top of the list, and the Fly Fishing the Ozarks Youtube Channel is the fastest growing channel in the fly fishing genre.

  • Brian Wise
  • fly fishingfly tyingfreshwaternymphingvideo

Comments on this post (3)

  • Sep 14, 2021

    Nice variation of a great gets down on the bottom nymph. I have a box just with Copper Johns in it, I will be adding this one. I am already thinking Olive and brown and Blue in Steel head size.

    — George M. Semel

  • Dec 03, 2020

    Great job in creating a nice variation to John Barrs signature
    fly. Good photography, explanations and dexterity.
    I would love to see more from your fly box.
    Be well.

    — Andrew Russetti

  • Dec 03, 2020

    Nice looking Copper John contains a lot of materials. Great job on the video. Look forward to more Tyes

    — Richard E. Vanasse

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