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Hillbilly Copper John

John Barr
Nymph
A little difficult

  1. Run the bead over the hook point with the large hole to the rear

  2. Cover the front bit of the hook with tying thread for the bead to fit tightly

  3. Whip finish and cut thread

  4. Varnish or glue the bead in position over the thread base in the absolute front of the hook

  5. Add a few wraps of heavy wire to the shank and shove into the rear opening of the bead

  6. Start the copper wire right behind this wire and run it in tight turns to the rear of the hook

  7. Cover the whole thing with tying thread to secure it. Make sure the thread is as even as possible

  8. Prepare two goose biots and tie in as tails on each side of the hook

  9. Run the thread back to behind the bead and follow by the copper wire in tight, even turns

  10. Tie down the copper and break off surplus

  11. Tie in a piece of flash straw on top of the hook

  12. Tie in shell back on top of this

  13. Tie in 1-3 peacock herls depending on hook size

  14. Wind the herl forwards to form a thorax

  15. Tie down and trim

  16. Prepare a partridge feather by removing the tip to form a V-shape

  17. Tie it in to form legs protruding from the side of the fly

  18. Trim surplus feather

  19. Pull shell back and flash forwards and tie down

  20. Whip fishing and cut tying thread

  21. Cover the shell back and upper body with epoxy

brown trout
chub
Hook Curved nymph hook size 14-20
Thread Black 8/0
Bead Brass bead to suit hook
Extra weight Heavy wire for extra weight
Body Copper wire
Tail Black goose biots
Back Expoxy
Thorax Peacock herl
Legs Partridge feather

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