Bodkin / Patterns

Leadwing Coachman

Wet Fly · Trout · Panfish · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

• Hook Standard wet fly, 10-16
• Thread Brown 8/0

Materials

• Body Peacock herl (3-4 strands)
• Hackle Brown hen (2 wraps)
• Wing Dark gray mallard quill (paired)
• Tag Gold tinsel (small)

How to tie it

1. Mount hook, wrap a small gold tinsel tag at the bend.
2. Twist 3-4 peacock herls into a rope and wrap a full body to the 75% mark.
3. Wrap 2 turns of brown hen, sweep the fibers back and down.
4. Tie in paired dark gray mallard quill slips, concave sides in, sloping low over the body.
5. Neat head, whip finish.

Substitutions

• Body instead of Peacock herl: Peacock Ice Dub — More durable, similar look; Synthetic Peacock Chenille — Indestructible
• Hackle instead of Brown hen: Partridge — Softer, mottled; Starling — Very soft for small sizes
• Wing instead of Dark gray mallard quill: Dark dun hen hackle tips — Easier to work with than quill slips; Starling wing quill — Dark, similar profile

Other versions

1 more in the app: Lead Wing.

Tying videos

• Leadwing Coachman — Tim Flagler (Orvis)
• Leadwing Coachman — Jim Misiura (YouTube)

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