I’m a big fan of the Copper John and Copper Bob series of flies, but prefer a slight tweak for early season fishing. The Corn Bob is a staple in my boxes year-round, but really comes into its own from June through July.
The reason? That’s when stoneflies hold forth, and the Corn Bob does a good job of imitating the aquatic forms of those insects. The yellow goose biot tails and optional legs are key, giving the standard pattern a golden flash that helps trigger strikes. In smaller sizes, say, a #14, it imitates a Yellow or Lime Sally nymph; in sizes 8-12 I use it for golden stones, and typically include the legs.
It doesn’t stop there, either. By late June and early July we’re seeing the first PMDs on the Columbia and Bow Rivers, and the Corn Bob works for those as well when tied down to #14 and smaller.
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