Copper Bug

Copper Bug

Original recipe (wrong sequence in my opinion)

Hook:  Mustad #38941, 9671 or 9672, size 4 - 16

Thread:  Brown monocord or brown pre-waxed nylon

Tail:  Cock pheasant barbules

Body:  Wrap abdomen with one layer of #30 copper wire (the type used for rewiring electrical motors), wrap thorax with two layers of same. Then wrap thorax with orange floss or silk, shape to basic nymph shape to size of hook. 

Wrap abdomen with single wrapping of copper wire.

Ribbing:  Peacock herl with fine overlay of fine gold oval tinsel. 

This will give added strength to the peacock herl.

Legs:  Brown hackle, trimmed top and bottom.

Covert:  Cock pheasant [wing case].

Thorax:  Peacock herl, tied full.

Recipe should read as follows (correct sequence in my opinion)

Hook:  Mustad 38941, 9671 or 9672, size 4 - 16

Thread:  Brown monocord or brown pre-waxed nylon.

Tail:  Cock pheasant barbules.

Ribbing:  Peacock herl with fine overlay of fine gold oval tinsel. 

This will give added strength to the peacock herl.

Body:  Wrap the entire hook shank beginning at the bend to the eye with one layer of 30 gauge copper wire then wrap the wire back toward the bend over the existing wire to form the thorax and wrap back toward the eye and tie off and trim the wire. The thorax area should have 3 layers if wire. 

See the wire body photo below 

Covert:  Cock pheasant [wing case].

Legs:  Brown hackle, trimmed top and bottom.

Thorax:  Peacock herl, tied full.

You have to tie on the tail, peacock herl and fine gold wire BEFORE tying the copper wire for the body and thorax. Then the wincase should be tied on before the hackle and peacock herl thorax.

I omitted the floss or silk covering the thorax area. 

Its not needed as it will be covered by the peacock herl.

Finished fly

Tying note: I think the hackle should be palmered over the entire peacock herl thorax for a better representation of a stonefly

Copper Bug Variation

Reference - Dick Surette's Trout and Salmon Fly Index