Bodkin / Patterns

Batwing Coachman

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Standard-length dry fly, barbless, 12-16
  • Thread Black 70 denier (12/0 shown in video)

Materials

  • Hackle fibers Brown hackle fibers (bunch of long stiff barbs (tail))
  • Hen hackle tips Per original (wide tips) (2 (wings))
  • Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (5-6 strands (body))
  • Rooster dry-fly hackle Brown hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base, then tie in a tail of long, stiff brown hackle barbs at the bend - Catskill-long, a good shank-length. Using a couple of looser wraps so it doesn't flare; trim the long butts.
  2. Tie in five or six peacock herls at the bend, catching them in a couple of inches up from the brittle tips; break or snip the tags.
  3. Move the thread to the one-third point behind the eye and tie in two hen hackle tips with a pinch wrap; stand them up and post them with wraps at the base so they sit upright.
  4. Optionally figure-eight a couple of wraps between the tips for a semi-spent set, and trim any barbs sticking forward so the collar stays clean.
  5. Give the herls a couple of gentle twists together (not tight enough to break) and wrap a fat, chubby body from the tail to the back of the wings, watching the hook point; tie off and trim.
  6. Tie in the brown dry-fly hackle behind the wings and wind two to three turns behind and three or four in front for a big bushy collar. It's what floats the fly and props the wings.
  7. Tie off the hackle, pull everything back, build a small head, and whip finish, zig-zagging to avoid trapping fibers; snip or singe any trapped barbs and cement.

Tying videos

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