The Field Journal

Flies

Copper John

Copper John Nymph

Key points

Fast-Sinking Profile. The combination of a brass/tungsten bead and lead wire wraps with a segmented copper wire body helps it cut through heavy current to reach the feeding zone quickly .
High Flash. The epoxy or UV-resin coated flash-back and metallic body provide visual attraction in turbulent, oxygenated water.
Freestone Dropper. Frequently fished as the subsurface fly in a "dry-dropper" rig beneath a Chubby Chernobyl or Stimulator on systems like the Elk River.

Imitates

Mayflies (nymph)
Stoneflies (nymph)

Related

Pheasant Tail Nymph — the traditional, less flashy mayfly nymph alternative.
Pat's Rubber Legs — a larger, heavier stonefly-specific dropper nymph.
River Nymphing — moving-water presentation tactics.

Where next

Keep moving

What it imitates Damselflies An early-summer stillwater event: damselfly nymphs migrate to shore to hatch, and trout ambush them en masse. Fish a damsel nymph on an intermediate/sink-tip wi How to fish it River Nymphing The most consistent way to catch river trout when nothing's rising — get a weighted nymph drifting near the bottom through a seam, under an indicator. The defau Proven water John Creek A small, steep child water of Meadow Creek at the north end of Kootenay Lake, tied into the flow and sediment story of the Meadow Creek kokanee spawning channel Reference Hatch charts Month-by-month guide to insect life and matching the hatch.