The Complete Fly Tying Recipe Library

The Royal Coachman is one of the most recognizable attractor patterns in fly fishing. Originally tied as a wet fly by New York fly dresser John Haily in 1878, it was developed as a more durable variation of the older Coachman pattern and later adapted into dry-fly and streamer versions. Rather than closely imitating a specific insect, it is used as a searching pattern for trout, panfish, and other freshwater species when no obvious hatch is underway. The dry fly can be dead-drifted through riffles and pocket water, while wet versions are effective when swung below the surface. Its peacock-herl body can be fragile, and neatly setting the traditional upright wings is often the most challenging part of tying the pattern.