The Copperhead Streamer is a great streamer for low water when a heavier bug is always hanging up on the bottom. The images below show how to tie this streamer. It is quick and cheap to tie, so you are more likely to fish it through the kind of water that is likely to hold some of the largest trout. The copper wire head adds a little weight, a little flash, and lot of color. In the water the feather that makes the body of this fly compresses and forms a fairly realistic minnow shape. The Mylar is then able to shine through the transparent body formed by the wet feather. This fly does not look like much, but it fishes very well.
Hook: Standard streamer hook un-weighted
Thread: Any color 6/0 or stronger
Body: Mylar tubing, or flashabou
Wing: Mallard flank feather
Head: Copper wire
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Attach your tying thread to the front of the hook, allow thread to go back no more than three eye lengths. Thread color is not important, as the copper wire will cover the entire head in the end. |
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Using cheap Mylar tubing that can be found in any craft store, tease out the braid and slide it over the eye of the hook. Leave a "tail" about half a hook length. The Mylar will slide around the thread. Wrap thread up the braid toward the eye. Stop wrapping about 1 eye length back from the eye. Pull the braid up and the eye of the hook should protrude through the bottom of the braid. Cut the braid off as close the eye as you can. |
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Select a Mallard flank feather in the color that fits the local minnow population. I have experimented with other feather types and had some luck, but the Mallard flank feather just seems to be right way to go. |
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Strip off all the web and fluff from the bottom of the feather, leaving the stem. |
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Tie in the feather as shown in the image to the left. Notice how much exposed stem is left. |
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Now tie in some medium copper wire. In this example we are using red, but there are several other colors that would be worth trying. We have wrapped thread over the stem and the wire to the tie off point. At this point we will tie off the tread using what ever method you prefer, and cut the thread. |
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Now fold the feather over and secure it with a turn or two of wire. Try to place the feather as much on top of the hook as possible. This fly can turn into a leader twister if the feather is too far out alignment with the hook. Wrap the wire up to the eye of the hook and complete one half hitch. Cut off the wire and the fly is complete. Add head cement if you desire (I don't use it myself), or if you have the time try an epoxy head. |
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The finished fly! |