A Fly Endeared
With a new fly rod and fly box at the inquisitive age of ten, I learned to cast wet flies for brook trout in our Pennsylvania woodland stream. My life long relationship began with a beautiful fly adorned with green flash, bright white wings and a scarlet sash…
lets go back a hundred years to the beginnings of the Royal Coachman.
Beginnings
The story of the first Royal Coachman began with a fishing trip to the North Woods. The year was 1878 when a fly fisherman engaged New York City professional fly dresser John Haley to tie some Coachman flies and to “make them extra strong”, to prevent the unraveling of the peacock herl body, and wood duck for the tail- thus the beginning of America’s favorite fly. A few evenings later in a circle of fishermen, a discussion arose to coin the handsome fly with a name. L.C. Orvis, the brother of Charles Orvis said “ Oh that is easy enough, call it a Royal Coachman it is so finely dressed!”
Royalty was in it’s orgins, this fly which was derived from a previous favorite in America, the Coachman. A British fly originated by fisherman Tom Bosworth, also a coach driver for King George IV, Henry IV and Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
The Royal Coachman was a success, publicized in Charles F. Orvis Fishing with the Fly ‘1883 and top listed in Mary Orvis Marbury’s Favorite Flies ‘1892; becoming without a doubt, the most well known fly pattern amongst those seeking trout on the waters as well as the general public. A fly synonymous with the romantic history of American fly fishing through the ages.
The popularity of the fly grew. There have been volumes of attractive fly patterns publicized throughout the years, nevertheless the Royal Coachman has remained popular for one reason. Trout love them. Fly shops as well as online stores across America have multiple versions of this old pattern in their bins and stock. I have chuckled to myself many times over the years while looking into the fly boxes of fellow fishermen on the streams, the inevitable Royal Coachman in one form or another to be cast into the current in hopes of fooling a wary trout!
Here To Stay
Today the grand woodland pursuit of trout with the fly has grown in leaps and bounds. Multiplied in interest by the appeal of online images and videos of fly fishing, flies and the waters. Contemporary fly tyers produce new fly patterns every day of different nymph, streamer, and dry styles. The vast majority of fly galleries by today’s top tyers include multiple versions of the Royal Coachman. Here are just a few…
On The Water
A few years ago on a frigid January morning I stood knee deep in an icy wild trout stream in the Pennsylvania Appalachian Mountains. The sun was low with rod guides and fingers freezing, all of my best fly offerings were readily refused. With stiff fingers I reached into my fly box and found a Royal Coachman wet fly, size 12. With hope fading but not the will to land a trout, the fly fell on the crystal water just below a waterfall. I watched the white wings descend into the deep as bronze flashed and with joyful excitement watched that beautiful wild trout jump twice before coming to rest in my net. This scene has been repeated many times in my years on the water. We hope that perhaps one day, you too will drift a fly with a royal history downstream.
Author: Fred Klein~ Fly tyer and fisher of classic flies, U.S. Partridge of Redditch Pro Team website:grizzlykingfly.com instagram.com/grizzlykingfly (flies third row)
Contributor: Matt Beers~ Catskill fly tyer and fisher, Catskill Fly Tyers Guild instagram.com/catskill_flyfisher (flies first row, Coachman)
Contributer: Cory Golden~Northern Michigan fly tyer and fisher, Trout Unlmited Adams Chapter instagram.com/streamsidescotch (flies second row)
