CDC-Enhanced Poor Man’s Copper John

By Scott Hanson

Translated by CARL WUEBBEN

If you’re a fan of John Barr’s Copper John series of flies but don’t like tying them, then here’s a simple one to make. The CDC-enhanced Poor Man’s Copper John. You can use a lot of different colored wire for the abdomen and Cul de canard (CDC). It is a simple addition to a lot of flies, like a Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear or Pheasant Tail Nymph. I believe it can really improve a nymph’s fish-catching ability. CDC-enhanced nymphs will make a positive difference in your fishing. Fish them during hatches and when there are no hatches going on. It doesn’t matter what is hatching, they work equally well during Mayfly, Caddisfly and even Midge hatches. And the best thing about using CDC on nymphs is that it doesn’t matter how slimy the feathers get when you catch fish because it’s just going right back under the surface on the next cast. So no need to “de-slime”.

PATTERN

HOOK – Your favorite 1X-long nymph hook, sizes 18 to 10 
BEAD – Copper bead
THREAD – 8/0 (70 denier), color to match the abdomen
TAIL – Pheasant Tail fibers 
ABDOMEN – Small of medium wire: copper, gold, red, wine, chartreuse or your favorite color
HACKLE – Natural Dun CDC feather
THORAX – Olive-brown or peacock-ice dub

HOW TO TIE

1. Debarb hook. Slip the bead on small hole first, place hook in vice and start your thread behind the beadhead up by the eyelet. Grab 6 to 10 pheasant tail fibers for the tail and measure out your tail to about a hook shank length hanging out the back and use the rest to tie down on the hook shank with your thread. End your thread at the beadhead.
2. Tie on a piece of wire for the abdomen: tie it on right behind the bead and then wrap your thread over it back to the tail. Keep the wire along one side of the hook shank to ensure a flat body. Bring your thread back up to the beadhead.
3. Wrap the wire up the hook shank with very close wraps (try for no gap between the wire). Take it to the beadhead and tie off. Then helicopter the tag end of wire off.
4. Tie on a CDC feather by the rear of the beadhead. Clip off your tag end and then wrap the CDC feather to form a sparse collar. Tie off and clip your tag end.
5. Dub a small thorax by twisting the dubbing between your index finger and your thumb. Then wrap onto the hook behind the beadhead, this will push your CDC rearward. Whip finish and clip your thread.
   A very simple and effective fly! 

TIE UP A DOZEN OR TWO – AND GO FISHING*** But remember to practice C.P.R. (CATCH – PICTURE – RELEASE)

CONSTITUTION>
OF
DEEP CREEK FLY FISHERS, INC.

A California Non-Profit Corporation 501 (c) (3) #33-0797023
Corporation #2236785

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation is: Deep Creek Fly Fishers, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The purposes of which this corporation is formed are:

1. To encourage angling with artificial flies;
2. To educate its members in the art of tying flies, building rods and fly fishing;
3. To encourage the conservation of wild trout, warm water and salt water fish populations;
4. To encourage and assist youth to become fly fishers and a conservationist.

ARTICLE III

The principal office of the corporation, for the transaction of its business is at
Isaak Walton Club House, Fairmount Park in the City of Riverside
County of Riverside, California

The mailing address is:

Post Office Box 8203, Redlands, California 92375.

ARTICLE IV

The powers of the corporation shall be exercised and its affairs conducted by a Board of Directors, which shall consist of the elected officers, which include the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President,  Secretary and Treasurer.

The balance of the board shall be made up from appointees of the President, which include the Chairperson of the following committees: News Letter Editor, Education, Conservation, Outings, Trout-In-the Classroom, Opportunity Drawings, Club Membership, and Web Master.

There shall be two additional members who shall be two past presidents.

The qualifications. the time and manner of electing, the terms of office, the duties, and manner of removing directors and filling vacancies shall be as set forth in the By-Laws of the corporation.

ARTICLE V

The qualifications of the members of the association, the voting and other rights and privileges of the members, their liabilities for dues and assessments and method for collection and termination and transfer of membership shall be as stated in the By-Laws.

The interest of any member of this corporation is the personal property of that member and no member shall have any interest in the property held by the corporation, regardless of the time and manner in which said property is acquired.

ARTICLE VI

The Corporation shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up by the vote of sixty (60) percent of its paid up dues members and in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation.

ARTICLE VII

This Corporation is non-profit nor shall it be operated, for pecuniary gain or profit and it does not contemplate the distribution of gains, profits or dividends to the members thereof, and is organized solely for non-profit purposes, and no part of the profits or net income of this Corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof. Upon dissolution or winding up of this Corporation, its assets remaining after payment of, or provisions for payment of all debts and liabilities of this Corporation shall be distributed to a non­profit fund, foundation or corporation, which promotes fly fishing, and which has established its tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code and Revenue Taxation Code of the State of California.

ARTICLE VIII

No substantial part of this Corporation shall consist of carrying propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor shall this Corporation participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE IX

The original copy of this Constitution, and any amendments thereto, shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, and shall be open to inspection by all members or their agents at any reasonable time. This Constitution shall be amended only by resolution duly adopted by a majority of the directors, and by a vote or written consent of 60 percent (60%) or more of the voting members of the Corporation, and not otherwise.

ADOPTED 10/14/ 2004

Approved: Signed

Mike Wright, President

Attested To: SIGNED

Charles L. Cole, Secretary

Rusty's  -  Five Rivers Lodge – Dillon Montana  - Fishing Trip – June 25 – 29, 2014

I left my home on June 23rd and drove to Payson Utah to spend the first night.  The next morning I drove from Payson Utah to Dillon Montana to met with Tim Tollett, owner of Frontier Anglers.  Tim and I set the dates for our October Duck Hunt on private lands.

I left Tim's place and drove to Sweetgrass Rods, in Twin Bridges, to spend a couple of hours talking with Glenn Brackett and his wife.  I watched Glenn cut some strips for his bamboo rods.  I left Glenn's shop and drove to Winston Rod where I spent a couple of hours chatting with Annette McClean.  I have known Glenn and Annette for decades.

From Winston Rod I drove to the Five Rivers Lodge off Highway 41.  I checked in and their staff put my things into my room.  I was joining Bob Marriott and his crew for another great fishing adventure.  We had drinks, met the rest of the group,  and then enjoyed a 5 star meal and then chatted until it was time to go to bed.

We awoke , had a great breakfast, and then we gathered our gear and met out Guides.  I was sharing a room with a gentleman named John from Detroit Michigan.  John and I had met in January on another one of Bob's trips to the San Juan in New Mexico.  John and I met our guide name Wes.  Wes owns a Fly Shop in a nearby town and was to be our guide for the next three days.  We loaded our gear into the truck and headed for the Big Hole River for the first day.  We arrived at the put in and launched our boat.  It started off to be a beautiful day.  We drifted down the river catching many fine fish and then the thunder and lightning started.  We finally pulled over under some trees and all hell broke loose for a while.  The storm finally passed and we continued downstream and caught many more fish.  We reached the take out and headed back to the lodge for a great dinner and to tell fish stories of the day.

The second day we arose, had breakfast, and headed for the Beaver head where it comes out of the Clark Canyon Reservoir.  This put in is the worst put in I have ever seen.  Even all the guides that were there agreed with me.  We loaded the boat and took off.  We immediately got into fish and it continued the rest of the day.  Another Great day of the water.  We did get some rain but is was mild compared to the first day.

The third day we arose, had breakfast, and headed to the Beaver head again.  We put in and I had three fine fish not 100 feet from the launch.  We continued to catch many fine trout the rest of the day.  As we drifted these rivers we observed many wildlife sighting which just made the trip even better.

The morning of the fourth day we had breakfast, packed our gear and headed home.  Most of my fishing mates flew out but I drove to Beaver Utah, spent the night, and got home for next afternoon.

Bob Marriott’s staff  puts on this trip every year.  All I can say is that the Five Rivers Lodge is a 5 star lodge in every way and the fishing of the rivers there is just outstanding.  Lord willing I will return next year.  I have attached some pictures to show you what you will be catching.

Tight Lines and God Bless.

Rusty