Fly Of The Month

Oct 2001

The Copper Head
by Jaiem Fleischmann

This fly is a #1 top producing fly for redfish (drum) from the Carolinas to Texas. Developed by Captain Randy Hamilton for fishing in murky waters, it is designed to be a fly fisher's version of the very popular and successful gold Johnson's spoon. This fly is very flashy and easy to spot even in the muddiest water. It has also proven itself very effective for other gamefish including striped bass, bluefish, weakfish (sea trout), albacore and mackerel.

Materials

Hook: Mustad 34007 size 1/0
Weight: Gold clouser-style brass eye, size 3/16
Thread: Brown
Tail: Copper Flashabou
Body: Copper/brown ice chenille
Upper wing: Copper Flashabou, Copper Krystal Flash
Lower wing: none
Misc: Head cement

Directions

1) Place hook in vise, point side down, and attach thread near rear of hook.
2) Tie 10-12 strands of copper Flashabou extending approx 1 inch past the hook bend.
3) Work the thread to the front of the hook just behind the eye.
4) Attach a clouser-style brass weight behind the hook eye.
5) Use the copper/brown ice chenille to wrap the shank of the hook from behind the weight to the bend and back. Put one loop of chenille around the clouser weight and secure in front of the weight.
6) Rotate hook over so the clouser weight is underneath (i.e. the point side is now up).
7) Tie 10-12 strands copper Flashabou over the top of the fly, attaching it just behind the hook eye and allowing it to flow past the bend approximately 1 inch (should be same length as the tail).
8) Tie 10-12 strands of copper Krystal flash over the copper Flashabou, also flowing over the top of the fly past the bend.
9) Whip finish the head and seal with head cement.
10) Done!