Copper John

The Copper John is one of the most effective and widely used modern nymph patterns, known for its heavy weight, buggy profile, and ability to sink quickly into the strike zone. With a sleek copper wire-wrapped body, beadhead, and soft hackle or legs for added movement, this pattern excels at imitating a wide range of aquatic insects—including mayfly nymphs and general attractors. Its segmented appearance and flash make it highly visible in both clear and stained water.

Thanks to its heavy build, the Copper John is ideal for fast-moving rivers, deep pools, and high-sticking euro nymph setups. It’s also an excellent anchor fly in tandem rigs, helping lighter nymphs reach depth quickly. Whether you’re fishing western freestone streams or technical tailwaters, the Copper John consistently produces fish when others fall short.

To fish the Copper John effectively, dead-drift it through riffles, runs, or seams using an indicator or tight-line technique. Let it bounce along the bottom naturally, occasionally adding slight twitches to mimic active insect behavior.