Copper John

[The Royal Coachman]

Need some advice.

I'm an "adequate tier" but always strive for perfection in the look of my flies. I know they"ll catch fish but I'm always trying to improve the look of my flies.

I tie a fair Copper John but have trouble with the last step. How do you get the epoxy to look like John Barr tied it?

 

[JeffK]

I don't use epoxy, or often use a couple of coats of clear nail polish for a clear effect.

I don't like 5 minute epoxy since it yellows in my experience, and liked rod wrapping epoxy when I took the time. Since it takes a long time to set up it helps to have a turning wheel so the epoxy doesn't sag to one side.

 

[DoubleHaul]

5 minute epoxy works great for me but here is the trick-
Go to the tile store and see if they will give you some broken tile.

Before you plan to mix the epoxy put the tile in the oven at 300 for 5 minutes or so. Take it out and put it on a paper plate. Mix the epoxy on the tile. By warming the epoxy, you do 2 things; you reduce the viscosity through conduction of heat to the liquid and it mixes more evenly. The bubbles release from the mix quickly so all you have is epoxy & not a cloudy mess.

Have your copper johns set up on a piece of foam (the kind they ship electronic equipment in) facing you-bead first and work your way along dabbing them as you go. Once you practice a bit, you will find the magic time when the epoxy starts to change state from a liquid to a soild. This "thin goop" period is when you want to start applying the water bubble to your CJ's.

I tried Loons UV for this but it yellows in a week- inadequate.

You may find that inverting the foam holding your nymphs periodically during the curing process help the integrity of the final shape.

DH aka McGuyver the fly tyer

 

[onemorecast]

Good stuff DH. I haven't even begun to get into epoxy, but these tips will come in handy when I do.

 

[irish1]

I tie a fair Copper John but have trouble with the last step. How do you get the epoxy to look like John Barr tied it?

The Copper John is supposed to be tied with epoxy? I just slap on some head cement and call it done.

 

[Fly Guy]

Go out and get some UV knot sense. Put some on the fly and hit it with the UV light. I use a bodkin to make a bubble on the top. I looks great and it's dry as soon as the light hits it.

Jeremy

 

[biot]

Go out and get some UV knot sense. Put some on the fly and hit it with the UV light. I use a bodkin to make a bubble on the top. I looks great and it's dry as soon as the light hits it.

Jeremy

I tried UV Knotsense and if you don't go 360 degrees around the hook it will eventually come off.
The thing I use is the instant Tuffle Eye epoxy. It's currred instantly using a blue Dental light which comes with the kit. Will not turn yellow or come off. Just one drawback, it gets a slight tacky surface when cured but is easily taken care of and cleaned with rubbing alcohol which gives it a cloudy look on top. Then you hit it with hard as nails to make the surface clear again.
Great stuff, a little pricey but worth it to me. Now I use it on all my flashback nymphs. Make's the flash stand out even more when light hits it.

 

[Karel]

I don't bother with epoxy or knotsense. Just use one or two strands of mylar flash and tie them down. You will catch as many fish as with the original. I would add some rubber legs though, they are "magical"...

 

[AKSkim]

Station KWSU program FLY TYING - THE ANGLER'S ART

LeRoy Hyatt in his version of the Copper John uses a few strands of Black Krystal Flash for the wing case with a drop of head cement.

It gives off a nice shine to off set the wing case.

 

[khuhner]

I use the 5 minute epoxy and a toothpick. I usually pre try a dozen flies then prepare the epoxy. Get a small bead of epoxy on the end of the toothpick and gently place it over the mylar/thin skin. Then hook each fly into the lip of a styrofoam cup to dry.

I've heard that Softex works too, although I have no first hand knowledge.

For me, the Knot sense doesnt create the rounded shape that the epoxy creates.

Kurt

 

[afishinado]

Sally Hansens "Hard as Nails" works fine for me.

 

[leadhead]

Krystal flash and hard as nails works for me, although I have never tried epoxy, I just think it's quicker and more economical, and my fly will eventually get lost on a rock or in a tree.
$100 for one of those UV kits? Too much $ for me to add some flash to a fly.IMHO

lh

 

[Fish_The_Dish]

Agreed with the hard as nails. my experience is that UV knotsense seems to cure inconsistently.

 

[biot]

$100 for one of those UV kits? Too much $ for me to add some flash to a fly.IMHO

lh

It was $80.00 and it's not to just add flash, it has hundreds of applications.
Such as Surf Candies etc., and will not yellow like 5 minute epoxy does over time.
I made the investment which in my opinion was a very good one. I tie hundreds of fly's every year and have found the Tuffleye very usefull

 

[TheHeron]

Everyone is right....if it works for you, do it that way. If it doesn't, do it the way that gives you confidence and is within your budget.

Myself, I don't use head cement, epoxy, or any other crap on my flies that the trout may (or may not) smell.

Do what works for you, and if someone else does it differently, try it if you like and then decide to go back or change to the new method.

That's the beauty of fly tying, it is constantly evolving in different ways for each one of us.

Mel