Royal Coachman

Royal Coachman [wet]

By Jay Peck

HOOK: Daiichi 2441 size 4 or 2051 size 7
THREAD: UNI thread 6/0 black
TAIL: brown hackle tips
RIB: medium copper wire wed
BOBY: 1/3 peacock 1/3 fluorescent pink floss 1/3 peacock
WING: whit calf tail
HACKLE: brown hackle
The Royal Coachman is a time honored classic fly, that has proven to be very effective for our steelhead fishing. I have slightly modified this pattern from the original fly patterns to accommodate our steelhead. The fluorescent pink floss can be substituted with chartreuse floss. I use the brown tackle tips for the tail because it is easily available and always handy. I like to tie the Royal Coachman on large wet fly salmon hooks, in sizes ranging from 2 to 6. A size 4 wet fly salmon hook is the same size as a size 6 streamer hook, which seems to be the ideal size for steelhead fishing.

Tying note; for those of you who are not used to working with peacock hurl. The medium copper wire rib will need to be counter wrapped to give support to the peacock hurl, about five to seven turns will be adequate to do this.