Copper John Copper

The Copper John in copper imitates mayfly nymphs—especially Baetis and PMDs—but with a slower sink rate, it’s ideal for fishing in shallower water, slower currents, or when trout are suspended higher in the column. The copper wire body maintains its signature segmentation and flash to attract fish.

History:
While the Copper John was originally designed by John Barr in the 1990s as a beadhead pattern to get down quickly, anglers began tying non-beadhead versions for technical or shallow-water situations. This unweighted version offers more natural drift and presentation finesse while preserving the fly’s proven durability and visibility. It’s particularly useful when fish are wary or during low, clear water conditions.