Daniels Coachman
John Bonasera aka Catskill John recently made a post on Instagram about the Daniels Coachman. John is obsessed with the Catskills and always has very interesting flies that he studies and ties. You can follow John on Instagram @catskilljohn.
Here is John’s explanation about this pattern.
“In 1946, Fortune magazine included a fly fishing article written by John McDonald that was titled “Fly Fishing and Trout Flies”. In the article were a series of 10 coachman patterns tied by Dan Bailey of Montana, and painted by John Atherton. This fly, “Daniels Coachman” was one of them. The body, in 3 sections are butted with peacock herl for and aft, making for a somewhat tedious fly to replicate! Rather than use standard herl for the joints, I chose the small eyes at the base of the peacock tail, it makes for a less disheveled look, though it’s likely intended to be a little fluffier as pictured in the magazine. It is however a pretty fly, though I wouldn’t want to make them by the dozen!”
Materials list:
Hook: Mustad 94831 size 12
Tail: Brown Spade Fibers
Body: 3-points of Red Silk or Floss butted with 4 points of Peacock Herl, evenly spaced.
Wings: White Duck Quill
Hackle: Brown
