Royal Coachman.
Originally a variant of course from the Coachman wet fly was commercialized and named by the Orvis family in the last quarter of the 19th century. The red band of silk was originally added to protect the herls but the way I tie my herl bodies with a reinforcing thread I think this is actually the more fragile bodytype.
Tail is more commonly made from Golden Pheasant tippets but I preferer the look of Wood Duck which was the original tail material on Orvis flies. Some patterns say the tip/tag is optional and I decided not to put one here. I think it gives the fly a cleaner look.
Royal Coachman
Tail: Wood Duck.
Body: Peacock herl with red floss in the middle.
Hackle: Brown.
Wing: White.
