Fly Recipe: MJ's Rubber Leg Copper John

The classic Copper John nymph, an attractor fly originally designed by Colorado-based angler and modern fly tying master, John Barr, was intended to sink quickly and to be fished in concert for big trout with larger grasshopper imitations. Over the years, however, the pattern has developed a cult following of anglers who use the Copper John on its own as a wickedly productive searching nymph in both rapid and still waters.


Matt "MJ" Jones of San Francisco, CA is an avid trout angler. He spends lots of time on the rich fly water of California's high country. The Truckee River is one of his favorite spots and this simple, but effective, Rubber Leg Copper John is one of his favorite flies.

Each time he heads to the Reno-Truckee area, MJ is sure to have a box-load of these bugs in red, chartreuse, and copper color variations at the ready. He loves this fly because it works well in the varied water anglers can encounter on rivers like the Truckee and for its simple design.


MJ's Rubber Leg Copper John >>
Hook >> Tiemco TMC 2457, sizes 12-18
Tail >> Black rubber legs
Body >> Wapsi UTC copper wire, size medium, red, chartreuse, copper, and other colors
Thorax >> Peacock herl
Wing Case >> Flash material coated wtih Z-Poxy 5-minute epoxy and resin
Leg >> Black rubber legs
Head >> Gold bead head, appropriately sized to fit hook


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

fly and photo courtsey of Matt "MJ" Jones, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The Fly Swap II: MJ's Lady Catherine Variation

Yesterday's post set the stage on the concept and worth of Fly Swaps, so let's take a first look at what came of the most recent San Francisco Swap: Matt "MJ" Jones' Lady Catherine Variation.
This fly, like a full-dressed Lady Catherine steelhead fly has got a flat shank profile and a "leggy" look from through the gape. A notable modern design characteristic of this fly is its skinny and sparse elegance. The minimalist design ethic has gone in and out of fashion in the history of fly tying, but it's never been as pronounced as it has become in recent decades.

A closer look at this fly reveals a keen sense of utility in its trim form; it seems nearly every fiber serves a purpose, none appear extraneous, all are integral to the pattern's usefulness.

In achieving this heightened sense of restraint and pure function, MJ has made great use of Angora goat dubbing, a long-fibered and durable material shorn from the goat species native to Asia Minor (or Turkey, in the modern day geopolitick). This species was brought to Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. Today, Angora goats are bred and ranched for their wool which is more commonly known as mohair. Even though mohair is most commonly found in sweaters and socks, the fibers of this material are perfect for dubbing applications in fly tying. This natural material is perfect for use in a range of nymph, steelhead, and giant stonefly patterns.

In steelhead tying, Angora goat dubbing is commonly known as the best all-natural substitute for the more traditional but illegal option, seal dubbing.

Angora is spiky and softer than seal, giving it a more supple quality at the vise. Some traditional steelhead tyers lament the unavailability of traditional materials and frown upon the use of more pedestrian fibers, but for the every day tyer focused on utility, Angora goat dubbing is an excellent material choice.


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The Fly Swap

Fly anglers are always on the lookout for the next hot fly.

In this quest for tomorrow's fish-catching Holy Grail, it's easy to look excitedly down the tunnel of one's own creative ability. But as in any form of functional art, designing with blinders on can be the most dangerous way to meet the future.

The "Fly Swap," as it's called by hardcore fly designers and tyers has been around for ages and has existed in many formats, some wholly impromptu and wildly creative, others highly organized and narrowly focused. Essentially, swapping flies is a bit like a jam session among like-minded, free flowing jazz musicians riffing back and forth, going bravely (together) into the next frontier of their craft.

Recently, the fierce fly designers at Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters and Beyond the Bug held a fly swap in San Francisco. The theme was steelhead. The beer was cold. The flies were fantastic.

This week, Beyond the Bug will take a look at what came out of this tying session and some of the design principles and techniques put to use in tying striking flies like:

Keith Westra's Herniator


And


Shunji's Redwing Blackbird

This kind of creative volleying is necessary to the progression of modern fly tying and design. With this in mind, grab a few craft-brews, a great single-malt, or a bottle of pinot, call some friends, and tie your asses off.


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

A Steelhead Fly With A Suitcase Of History

In the art of fly tying, it's always a gas to breathe new life to an old standard (even if you don't play much with the recipe at all). That's what Ian McNemar has done with The Golden Demon, a traditional salmon and steelhead fly pattern that originated in England probably around the turn of the 20th Century.

Ian has recently been inspired by John Shewey's brilliant work on steelhead fly tying, and he's been burning through the book, tying pattern after pattern. Steelhead flies are enticing to the modern aesthetic for their restrained use of material and their clean and graceful geometries.


The history of The Golden Demon is that of a well-traveled fly. Fly fishing author and historian, Dick Surette, explains:

"The Golden Demon is probably the most used fly on Black Lake and in the Connecticut Lakes area of N.H. This fly has an interesting and well-traveled background. The fly was originated in England and brought to New Zealand where Zane Grey use it in the 1920's. He then brought some flies back to the West Coast for steelhead and salmon. Then the fly appeared on the salmon rivers of New Brunswick, especially on the Cains River. From New Brunswick the pattern filtered down to the area northern New Hampshire in the early 1930's and has been a most popular pattern in that area ever since. The orange throat is supposed to be the color that is repulsive to demons and is tied in several variations such as the Silver Demon and Black Demon" (Trout and Salmon Fly Index).

Remarkably, the design has gone through very few changes through the course of its travel and continues to be one of those "top producers" fly shop junkies love to chew on about for hours with their fly fishing and tying compatriots.

Today, The Golden Demon is quite effective in the Atlantic salmon water of North America's rocky northeastern coast, and is a killer pattern in the Pacific Northwest. It's sparse dressing style and bright colors are perfect for a fall trip to the Deschutes River in Central Oregon, and it was probably the foundational pattern for the Fall Favorite, another popular fly design used throughout the Pacific Northwest on steelhead and salmon.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

flies and photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The EP Purple Peril: A Fresh Take on a Classic Steelhead Fly

The Purple Peril, like all classic steelhead flies, has been refined and developed over time. One could liken this process to aging a youthful and brawny chardonnay or single malt in oak barrels, yielding an older, more sophisticated version of its youth.

The original Purple Peril was probably a much less sleek or sparse fly, but the collective modern fly tying sensibility has pushed this bug from bushy and bullish to trim and fit. It's fished effectively on the swing in that classic green steelhead water of the Pacific Northwest from Northern California through British Columbia, and that diehard set of Great Lakes steelheaders in the Upper Midwest can also find great success with this fly.

The fly is traditionally tied (like the one below) with a bucktail wing and a tinseled body for a bit of attraction.


To some, the use of synthetics fly tying materials in the dressing of classic fly patterns ought to be an illegal act sanctioned by the IFGA, but to others, the incorporation of new materials in old designs is just part of how the world progresses.

Here's a take on the classic steelhead fly that makes excellent use of Enrico Puglisi's EP Fibers in place of the more traditional bucktail wing. EP Fibers are a soft, ultra-light synthetic fly tying material commonly used in bonefish flies and long, saltwater streamers and baitfish patterns.


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

flies and photographs provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

The Sexiest Fly Tying Vise Ever? Meet the Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise from Renzetti

I walked around the 2007 Fly Fishing Retailer in Denver for a full day. My feet were tired of the concrete floor and I thought I'd seen it all. I was ready to hit the town and kick back with industry types. As I was heading for the exit, I was stopped dead in my tracks, not by a new fly rod or a drift boat, but a fly tying vise.


The brochure was left on a table near the door that was littered with event information, schedules, and the like. When I first saw the advertisement for the Special Edition Master Vise from Renzetti, I wasn't entirely sure I was looking at a catalog aimed at fly tyers; the slick marketing brochure made the vise look more like a Porsche or a Bentley than a fly tying tool. I read the specifications and looked at the sleek lines, the matte black finish, the powerfully designed jaws. In a word, I was impressed.


After returning home, I thumbed through the pages of the brochure and just kept coming back to the Special Edition Master. Like many type-A saltwater fly tyers, I am a sucker for sexy design and solid engineering so naturally I had to get a Gamakatsu SC15 in the jaws of a Renzetti Special Edition Master Vise -- STAT.


The Renzetti Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise

Retail Price: $729.95

Specifications:

- Design inspired by fly tying genius Bob Popovics
- SPECIAL EDITION non glare black finish
- Advanced rotary actuator (the independent positioning of the fly and crank arm affords total versatility in all rotary functions)
- Precision dual ball bearing rotary head
- True 360 degree rotation
- Adjustable rotary tension
- Adjustable, hide away material clip
- Helical cam operated jaw mechanism
- Solid brass bobbin cradle support
- Anti corrosion coated cam jaws
- Painted adjustable jaw hinge to accommodate the full spectrum of hooks
- Stainless steel stem

What’s the word . . .

Renzetti's Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise is the king of saltwater fly tying vises. Period. This vise is smooth, versatile, tough, lightweight, and elegantly designed.

I set out to really put this vise to the test, so I sat down tied about 30 large saltwater streamers on 1/0 and 3/0 hooks. From start to finish of each fly, the vise responded brilliantly. The repeatability of its tension, hook after hook, wrap after wrap, was remarkable and its rotary action was silky smooth. There was plenty of room to work around the jaws and the adjustable arm and well-placed material clip were quite useful when I pulled out the really long yak hair to get some gnarly length with my baitfish creations.

After these saltwater offerings, I decided to tie up some Stimulators on #14 and #16 hooks. The vise was easy to adjust and held these smaller hooks with just as much solid power, giving me the confidence I needed to tie some killer bugs. I was impressed by the stability of the vise's base and overall construction -- it really did feel like driving a well-engineered sports car instead of a clunky truck or SUV.


Next up were the really small #20 midges. Again, the Special Edition Master performed flawlessly. I don't tie too many flies smaller than size 16 mostly because of the type of fishing I am usually pursuing, but I was pleasantly surprised by this vise's ability to securely hold a very small hook while leaving me room to actually produce a great fly!

From the first fly to the fiftieth, and in a range of hook sizes, the Renzetti Special Edition Master performed just as it should, and it looked great doing it!

Features . . .

Hard-nosed engineering and construction meet the functional elegance of great design in Renzetti’s Special Edition Deluxe Master Fly Tying Vise. This vise was inspired by the wildly popular fly tyer Bob Popovics and is quite simply the finest vise available today. The advanced rotary actuator of this vise allows for independent positioning of the fly and crank arm for maximum versatility at the bench, while its precision dual ball bearing rotary head is smooth fly after fly. Rotary tension is adjustable and the material clip can be positioned away from the working space near the jaws. The Special Edition Deluxe Master takes a full range of hook sizes and its anti corrosion coated cam jaws ensure durable performance. On top of it all, the black finish looks sweet and reduces glare, letting your focus on your fly, not unwanted reflected light.

Fit and Finish . . .

This vise flat out performs and has the sleek and bold design to back it up. The matte black finish on this vise not only gives it the pure aesthetic of serious machinery, but it also serves a function: it absorbs bright and reflective UV rays, the bane of saltwater fly tyers everywhere! The brushed gold accents smack luxury and the quality machining of all of the moving parts is remarkable.

Reliability and Durability . . .

This vise is bomb-proof, a fact that becomes evident as soon as you open the box and begin to assemble it at or workspace. The durability of the black finish is yet to be fully realized, but if Renzetti's prior products are any mark of the Special Edition Master Vise's long-range quality, fly tyers everywhere should be producing bugs by the billions on these fantastic vises for years to come.

With a solid lifetime warranty backed by Renzetti, the $729.95 sticker shock should soften a bit. Renzetti is a family operation and their customer service is quite good.

Overall Rating . . .

Renzetti's Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise truly is the sexiest vise to ever hit the market. There are certainly vise options designed wholly for lasting durability and there are those constructed purely for aesthetic staisfaction, but the Special Edition Master is sexy because it marries these design approaches seamlessly and elegantly. The price tag may turn some tyers off, but for those who bite the bullet, the investment should be well worth it.

Renzetti Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise

Pros: The smooth full-rotary action, solid construction, elegant design, and strong jaws do more than offset its hefty price tag.

Cons: Checking in at a stiff $729.95, the Special Edition Master Vise is an investment.

Bottom Line: If you tie lots of flies or are heavy on saltwater flies, this is the vise for you. In fact, spend the $729.95 today, and you'll probably never buy another vise again.


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

photos in this post used by permission from flyfishingoutfitters.com and lelandflytying.com