Royal Coachman - Fly Tying the Original American Dry Fly

Рет қаралды 22,003

3 жыл бұрын

Created in 1878 by John Hailey, the Royal Coachman may be the most iconic of original American fly patterns. Typically a general attractor pattern, it is thought the silhouette may resemble certain mayflies or if tied small enough, even ants. I've never considered the Royal Coachman anything but a searching pattern but it has proven effective on American streams and rivers for over 140 years.
Hook: #10-16 dry fly
Thread: Black
Tail: Golden pheasant tippets
Body: Peacock herl with red floss band
Hackle: Brown rooster
Wing: White duck slips
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. I've been uploading at least three new videos a week (usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).
Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know in the comments if you have any tips or tricks that could help me or anyone else watching.

Пікірлер: 63

@j.ericswede7084 2 жыл бұрын

In 1955-56, when I was 5 or 6 years old, my Dad took me to the Pastime Restaurant and Bar in Sandpoint, Idaho to buy some flies. He bought several Royal Coachman flies that day and I have forever since associated fly-fishing with this pattern and my Dad. I can still remember that day as if it was yesterday. Thanks for showing me how it is tied.

@wayneandrews1278 2 жыл бұрын

That very nice you had great dad I had a uncle and two great grandfather my dad was not even in my life have a blessed day

@jasongupton7858 Жыл бұрын

Same here! The first fly I ever used was a royal coachman. My dad swore by it, and it's still my favorite.

@richardjones2129 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt 4 tying the royal coachman. As a kid my dad said 2 always have 1 r 2 n my flybox. Its paid off time n again catching fish. A great day 2 keep n flybox! Thanks again 4 a trip down memory lane! God Bless n fish on!

@chasselynch5733 Жыл бұрын

MATT !! MY FAVORITE DRY fly to fish here in north central Pa .the Royal coachman I use religiously all spring /early summer. Works amazing during March brown hatches and even when the green drake's come off on the freestone waters I fish

@jeffreystone7327 2 жыл бұрын

It’s amazing to me, I knew of this fly before I had any interest in fly fishing or fly tying. That speaks a lot of it success. Great history with it. Thank you for that Matt. What is not to like about this one? This will be one I want to learn for sure. I can’t imagine the thrill of your first fish with this fly after tying it. Outstanding video and tying tutorial. Thank you Sir.

@samh4232 2 жыл бұрын

Another I’m going to add to my collection. I feel like this one is aesthetically pleasing to me and the fish!

@SavageFlies 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely a classic Sam. Thanks for the note my friend!

@sabiangriffin3713 3 жыл бұрын

The royal coachman sure does work for brookies. First fly I ever caught a trout on

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah, this thing is a classic for a reason! Maybe not as durable as the Royal Wulff, but still a great fly to fish. :-)

@garrettswoodworx1873 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Matt. (I'm still catching up, lol!) I remember my dad introducing the Royal Coachman to me as we were preparing for a day-hike fishing trip into the San Gabriel mountains in Southern California nearly 60 years ago. I didn't have a fly rod/reel but I remember it worked fine using a closed faced Zebco baitcaster loaded with 2# mono on a rod made entirely of metal! Used a tiny split shot crimped about a foot above the fly so this kid could cast it more than a couple of feet. Thanks for refreshing those wonderful memories my friend.

@SavageFlies 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, this is a great story Garrett! I think many of us have fond memories like this. And I know exactly the old Zebco rod and reels you're talking about. I think my first one was their 202 until I got a bigger 404 to fish for bass in my local ponds. And the cheap department store flies under a split shot and red and white bobber. Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

@JM-bb8xi 3 жыл бұрын

I really like that you explained the history of the coachman fly. Props!

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Josh! Appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

@JM-bb8xi 3 жыл бұрын

@@SavageFlies its fascinating to hear the stories behind these flies! The tutorial is always great, but the context really pulls it all together! Well done.

@CampfireKodiak Жыл бұрын

This fly always makes me smile when I tie one on!

@SavageFlies Жыл бұрын

It's certainly a nostalgic pattern!

@naturalverities 6 ай бұрын

Had some of these hanging around from an assortment I had bought before I started tying. Tied one on in a what-the-heck mood for fishing topwater on a choppy windswept lake. Picked up about a dozen arctic grayling with it, probably due to high visibility. Fun day!

@tubbyguyoutdoors Жыл бұрын

Those carp are a blast to catch ! They pull hard . Thanks for sharing bud

@SavageFlies Жыл бұрын

You bet! Thank YOU for watching. :-)

@CarlosVazquez0 3 жыл бұрын

Attention to detail is where it's at! Great job my man, looks very clean! Looking forward to seeing your future videos :)

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Carlos! I really appreciate you checking out my channel. Cheers, Matt

@wayneandrews1278 2 жыл бұрын

Very great video

@davehall2160 3 жыл бұрын

Love the history lesson, great looking fly Matt

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave! There's probably a lot of history out there on this fly. It's the unknown ones that are a littler harder to research...

@mikeney5113 3 жыл бұрын

Nice classic tie matt.thanks.

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike! We've all got to have a few classics in our boxes. 😁

@tannerpeavy3356 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Keep on keepin on.

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tanner. Appreciate you watching!

@cchasselynch2173 3 жыл бұрын

I love this dry pattern for the mountain freestone streams ,but after a couple fish the wing would be shredded so the royal wolf seems to be more durable

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Very true. I was using one of these on a float trip out west last fall and it held up through about six big cutthroats but was pretty shredded by then. But if I get six nice fish on one fly, I’m pretty happy. 😁

@louisaziz1235 3 жыл бұрын

Without a doubt one of my top three flies. Thank you. Great history lesson, too. I have a request, please. Being disabled, I often can't get out to a fly shop for materials and I don't buy on line (had info stolen before). Would you be able to offer advice on possible substitute materials, such as for the duck wing, during your tying lesson? I'm pretty sure that I am not the only one with this problem. Your classes are so easy to follow and you are very much appreciated. Many thanks.

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Louis. I will definitely try harder to point out substitutes during the video. And if I forget, I will try to mention it in the description. Unfortunately, a lot of times I don't know what a good substitute may be. But whenever possible I will try. Thanks again for the nice comments. Cheers, Matt

@veli-markushalonen8001 2 жыл бұрын

History bullshit! An englishman named Tom Bosworth was a royal coachman himself, and he tied the first Royal Coachman in 1830.

@joshuapentz1232 3 жыл бұрын

I love the looks of this fly

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah Joshua- I do too. Such a classic pattern!

@cowboycody8094 2 жыл бұрын

I wish I had a few of these in my arsenal last night there were Mayflies all over the place.

@SavageFlies 2 жыл бұрын

You should keep a handful of Adams or parachute Adams in your box, in sizes 12-18. That will cover so many versions of mayflies you'll run into! It's like the universal go-to mayfly dun pattern. :-)

@comesahorseman Жыл бұрын

My ambition is to tie a size 24 Royal Wulff. Wish me luck! Nice tie, BTW!

@robertbaker231 Жыл бұрын

I buy them from Joe's fly's they are great for big trout it is basically the only lure I use different sizes but very effective on almost all species

@danielyost4379 2 жыл бұрын

Matt great fly in my earlier years taught fly tying and stressed proportions I would tie a size 10 royal coachman then tie Size 32 royal coachman And caught a 16 in brook trout on slate run

@SavageFlies 2 жыл бұрын

I still can't imagine a #32. The eye of the hook would seem huge compared to the rest of it if you hoped to even get it tied on 7x tippet!

@danielyost4379 2 жыл бұрын

@@SavageFlies yes

@ColinD0131 3 жыл бұрын

The wings are the hardest part. Next comes proportions, the size of hook and the length of the hook. I useally tie the royal wulff but with white fox for the wings. You can tie a royal cripple. I've never been a fan of squirrel, calf tail and other "sold "hair. I tend to like white fox or deer belly hair for the wings.I find feather winged drys the hardest for me. I've only been tying 10 years but still working on some things. I'll try to give this a go.

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Colin, that's interesting. Is fox tail hollow like deer or elk? I do like tying with solid hair, but usually for hair-wing streamers. I like squirrel for lots of streamers, but calf tail if I need a few fibers between feather wings. Thanks for watching my friend, and for the note!

@diecastrejuvenation7779 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful fly! I have a question, what do you mean by " a couple of slips of duck feather"? Is that the same process as the pheasant tippet?

@SavageFlies 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Troy! And no, not really similar to the tail tippets. For slips of duck like this, you'll take a left and right feather. Usually duck feathers come in packs of two or four, and there will be matching pairs. You'll want to cut a small slip from each and put them back to back before tying on the hook. That way your slips won't both have the same bend. It kind of helps to keep your wing symmetrical.

@diecastrejuvenation7779 2 жыл бұрын

Gotcha. I'll give it a go!

@lets_fish_already_9345 3 жыл бұрын

After watching how that duck quill reacts does the quality of the feather effect the result? Because I bought some super cheap duck quill from a local fly shop and everytime I try to tie a matched wing for a wet fly the quill fibers would fold inwards no matter what technique I used.

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

I've certainly had issues with cheap duck quills too. Like the ones in this fly were not a good matching pair. As an upright wing on a dry fly that's usually okay, but these would have looked terrible on a winged wet fly. So yes, I think the quality of the pair does make a big difference, particularly on wet flies. I think I have a video where I used better feathers-- I'll see if I can find it...

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

I think the video of the Coachman (the regular one) and an older video of the Hare's Ear Wet used better quality feathers. You can see I dont tie a lot of winged wet flies yet. They're still hard to get right! (Check out Don Bastion's wet flies. They're some of the best out there.)

@soloflyfishing 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Matt, I want to tie some of these up but can’t figure out what to buy for duck slips. Do you mind pointing these out to me on J Stockard’s website? Thank you. I learned to tie flies watching your channel. You do great stuff.

@SavageFlies 2 жыл бұрын

No problem! I get either their Wapsi or Nature's Spirit. If you an find the Nature's Spirit in white, I think they're usually a little better quality. (In my experience.) www.jsflyfishing.com/rumpf-duck-quill-pair But it does look like they're out of stock in the white right now. I also buy plenty from the Fly Shack as well. www.jsflyfishing.com/rumpf-duck-quill-pair

@soloflyfishing 2 жыл бұрын

@@SavageFlies thank you Matt.

@OttoJulian_ 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting story about the name! Matt this is off topic but what light are you using for the talking head portion of your video?

@SavageFlies 3 жыл бұрын

Otto- I'm using some pretty cheap lights. The one in front of me is ESDDI softbox kit www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S8T6DQF and a GVM 560 LED www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JJ2WGLJ as the fill light on my right. I've done the last few intros (the talking head part) with a Canon M50, but before that I used the same camera for the tie as the intro-- a Sony Handycam FDR. It does well for the macro part of the tie, but wasn't very good for the talking head stuff.

@OttoJulian_ 3 жыл бұрын

@@SavageFlies I just took a look at those lights, the softbox seems interesting and are not expensive. The thing with the godox that I told you is that you need a big softbox to make the light softer. That's the secret. Thank you for sharing. I might even think about getting one of those kits just to make a review in the future

@chasselynch5733 Жыл бұрын

I perfer. calf body hair for the wings much more durable then the mallard quill