Fly Tying the American Coachman (Classic British Columbia Fly Pattern)

[@jackreeves3001]

Hi Matt, really enjoy you. Real is what I call it. Thanks for sharing your time and talent! KANSAS

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Jack! And yep, my ties are usually pretty real. If I only showed videos of perfect ties, I'd never publish anything. :-) Thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@FlyTyer1948]

I’ll bet that Hughie is right. It looks like a streamer version of the Professor, one of my favorite wet flies. Tied in wet fly sizes, it’s very effective for trout & smallies. This streamer should be as good or better.

[@SavageFlies]

Great call Bob. I just saw Hugh's comment (I'm finally getting to them after some family time tonight). It did remind me of the Professor as well. Red tail, yellow body, and silver rib. I've tied a couple of Professors but have never really fished them. Maybe a time or two but can't remember doing much with it. (The fly wasn't the issue I'm sure. I can get skunked for any number of reasons. :-) )

[@michaelmerlino6753]

A goid reason for tying flies you may never use is learning new techniques.If you twist the body material tight at the rear and loosen it as you advance you should get a better taper.Fish this one I’m sure it will work.Good fishing Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Michael! I always struggle when using the full strand of yarn with keeping the body even. I'll try this on my next one.

[@bigdaddy99929]

My favorite go to fly when I was young in Montana. Great memories!! 😇thx Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

That's awesome Clyde! I didn't think anyone would have heard of this guy. Thanks for the note and, Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@bigdaddy99929]

@@SavageFlies my fault. It was the Western Coachman. Sorry!!!

[@SavageFlies]

@@bigdaddy99929 Oh yeah, the Western Coachman is indeed a great pattern! I still might try this version though. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, your comment about tying flies and not being able to use them is me all the way😊 but that will change the first week of June my BETTER HALF and I are going on vacation since all the kiddos are going back with there mommy at the end of the month (yeah) that chapter of our lives will end and a new one begins. A great looking fly I'm going to ty some up and I will try them yeah. Have a great weekend and good luck to all the entries in the fly tying contest. 😊

[@SavageFlies]

Ahhh, Edward you make me smile my friend. A June vacation sounds wonderful. I'm just now settling down for the evening to check comments and email. Your Killer Kabari looks awesome! I'll have to dig back a couple of emails to check out your Alexandra. I did go by my post office box tonight and unfortunately still no envelope from you. I'll be going by one more time over the weekend to catch any stragglers so there's still a little hope yours will make it. But as terrible as the DC post office has been, I'm not holding my breath. But of course I'll let you know the minute I do get it. Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

@@SavageFlies you the Man Sir Matt have a great weekend. Will you give an update on how many entries you received

[@SavageFlies]

@@edwardchavez5627 I sure will Edward. I haven't counted in a few days, but I think I've got about 30 or so right now.

[@hughiegraves8901]

Sort of like the professor colors except the wing .nice one matt👍.

[@SavageFlies]

Hugh, I think you're exactly right! I actually thought about the Professor when I was tying it, but thought everybody would think I'm crazy if I said that. I'm glad you confirmed I'm not too crazy. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

Serendipity is playing into my hands right now. I ordered a refractometer on Amazon the other day and had to get a few bucks more to get free shipping. Fortunately I found a whole gallon sized baggie full of yarn for abound 5 or 6 bucks to get me free shipping. I can tie this in lots of colors now. Thanks for the video Matt. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@SavageFlies]

Okay, now I want the link for this gallon size bag of yarn! That sounds like an awesome deal. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

@@SavageFlies I sent you an email.

[@SavageFlies]

@@johnnylightning1491 Got it my friend; thanks for the link!

[@jeffreystone7327]

Another great video Matt. Thank you buddy. Looks like I’m going to have a good selection of flies come Spring. This one will be apart of the mix. Thank you Sir.

[@edwardthornton1031]

Nice job Matt. Have a good weekend and maybe do a little fishing. Thanks for sharing Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Butch. I'm sure I'll be able to squeeze a fishing trip in sometime soon! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@toddslichter7831]

Looks great, Matt...as always. Thanks, sir.

[@SavageFlies]

And as always Todd, I appreciate you watching!

[@davehall2160]

Great looking fly Matt Thanks for the video

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Dave! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Nice tie Matt, will be adding a few to my steelhead box. Thanks for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

Man Layton, I'd love to see a picture of your steelhead box. Actually, I just want to have a steelhead box of my own! Someday maybe...

[@laytonmarvin3790]

@@SavageFlies I have 5 fly trays with about 50 different patterns in several different colors because you never know what kind of mood they will be in. lol

[@jimholland1592]

Good morning Matt ☕️☕️

[@SavageFlies]

And to you Jim! What's that?? Two cups of coffee before 8am? You're a wild man!

[@peterrebhahn1113]

Tying flies without a local use? Tell me about it. Here I am tying hairwing Atlantic salmon flies in the Wisconsin Driftless, where no Atlantic salmon swim. But catching an Atlantic salmon on a fly is on my bucket list, and when and if that day comes I'll be ready. Iceland, Norway, and Russia are off limits. Too expensive. But the maritime provinces of Canada might be doable. All of which illustrates a truth: Tying flies you can't use fuels hopes and dreams, and what is life with those? In this way, tying flies becomes a good of its own, separate from the fishing.

[@SavageFlies]

Peter- this is the best comment I've read in a while; thank you! Tying flies is indeed a good of its own. I know several tiers on here who no longer fish as much as they used to, but still haven't been able to give up on tying. I figure that's going to be me someday too. But... my fishing days are only limited right now because of where I live, how much I work, and still having kids in the house. In ten years, the kids will be out of the house, the wife and I will be retired, and hopefully living out on our farm in western Maryland. Near the Savage River. And then, when I'm not tending the fields or rabbits, I'll be on the river. That's my dream. Maybe even have the time for some trips to western Canada or New England and take an Atlantic salmon with a fly. Yep, that's on my bucket list too. Thanks for the great comment my friend. :-)

[@jeffreystone7327]

I’m a beginner tyer living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I’m hoping to learn to tie up some of these flies and use for Smallmouth on the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers? Still gathering materials. Should start actually tying after Christmas. Matt and this channel have been God sent. Great to read and learn from the comments from all of you seasoned tyers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@comesahorseman]

Amen, brother! 👍

[@barrylloyd8554]

Thanks for sharing Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Hey Barry, I really appreciate you watching. Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@mikeney5113]

That's a different pattern Matt,sure it will catch fish.again great tie.thanks for sharing.tight lines!!!!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Mike. Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@epsieblaine9558]

Hi Matt,never tied this one,reminds me of a gray hackle yellow,with a wing.Hey take a break and go fishing.Linda and I have been fishing all week.Going to catch and release water today.The hatch has bend crazy good day and I have crazy good ,fishing has been great.Not seen or heard no cicadas yet.Don't miss this great hatch.Have a great day. K&L

[@SavageFlies]

Oh Ken, you're a lucky man to have a wife you can fish with! And believe me, I go as often as I can. But with a wife and two kids who don't fish, and the nearest trout river two hours away, fishing for me is an all day event that I have to plan for. I'd go every weekend if I could, but we always seem to have a kids sporting event or chores around the house. But I'll get there my friend. When I can retire in about ten more years. Oh yeah, that's my plan. :-)

[@RockyPhillips]

Great looking fly, very nice

[@SavageFlies]

Hey, thanks Rocky! Appreciate it my friend. :-)

[@huntingmissouri5420]

Nice I like it!! Thanks for sharing Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Franky! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@arthurskim7898]

Soon you will have enough patterns and their history to write your own book. Bravo Zulu

[@SavageFlies]

Don't tell anybody Arthur, but that's my plan! If I can keep this channel going until I retire, I'll supplement my farming income by writing a few tying books. And maybe even pick up an RV and travel to the fly fishing meccas. :-)

[@easttnflyfreak2870]

great tye Thanks Matt!!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks James! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@paulallen7651]

Pretty fly. It looks like it would be lively in the water. My apologies but I have one small suggestion. If you secure as many of your tail, rib and body materials the full length of the hook shank (minus the head area to prevent bulk) you will eliminate the lump near the hook bend and make for a smoothly tapered body. Love the channel.

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, excellent tip Paul! I did end up doing that with yesterday's fly (a green rockworm) and I'll definitely try to do that more going forward. Except maybe if I'm trying to do a really slim silver tinsel streamer body. But man, I mess those up all the time anyway. :-)

[@wayneandrews1933]

Hey my friend great looking fly I think I can do this one bless on your family

[@joeduca8582]

Another winner Matt. I'm definitely getting that book. At first I thought you tied one from the Shewey book you just got, I seem to remember a Californian pattern in it. I know the California Coachmen is tied both dry and wet, like the Royal. Anyway it does look like the Professor. Maybe the tier ran out of mallard or thought bucktail was better suited for sea-run trout ;o) I really like it on that curved hook. I've some daiichi 1760 I'll try it out on. BTW, I have boxes of patterns I haven't fished, and probably never will, but it sure is fun tying them. Thanks Matt, have a good one! :o)

[@SavageFlies]

I'm right there with you Joe! Boxes and boxes of patterns. Most new patterns I tie for the channel, I'll end up with 4-6 after a couple of practice ties, and one or two while I'm recording. I need to just start giving them away on the channel. With the caveat of course, that if you get six flies of one pattern, two or three of them might be crappy looking. But hey, they should still catch fish. Now... about the book. I'm looking at the California Coachman right now (page 51). This thing is beautiful! That white wing with the jungle cock eye is just classy. I've got to tie this. Any idea what this black, down-eye hook is? That's got to be a 3x long. But man, that's a good looking fly! (And oh yeah, I'm still going to review this book next. Maybe tomorrow.)

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies Yeah that's a beauty, it's on the front of the jacket cover too, lower left. What a profile, the tail and jc eye have the same swept up angle, even the bands of color complement each other. He's an awesome tier. I don't know what that hook is, they don't give designations in the recipe section. If I see something similar I'll let you know. Take care Matt and thanks.

[@SavageFlies]

@@joeduca8582 Appreciate it Joe- I just published a review of the book and am about to order a bundle of materials so I can start tying these bad boys! Good stuff my friend. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies Awesome! Knew you'd like it, have a blast my man!

[@harryjoesather6539]

thanks matt ...see ya joe

[@SavageFlies]

Joe, welcome back my brother! I've missed you around here. No worries though... watch whenever you can; I'm not going anywhere! Just keep tying my friend. 👍

[@leemowers9395]

nice pattern. thanks Matt, BTW the polar bear fur ranks up with owl, also Illegal.

[@epsieblaine9558]

It is unlawful to kill owls,but I am a turkey hunter.I owl boot to locate turkeys,owls will answer me back.I locate the owls,they roost in the same tree ever day.They pick themselves.I will go and pick up owl feathers.Eskimo people in AK can kill polor bears,good to have friends in Ak.These materials are hard to get,but you can obtain them if you try,Legally.

[@kalikasurf]

Gotta make sure Lee never sees my Malayan tiger whisker tail nymph.....dubbed in mountain gorilla fur! They’re very successful at catching fish, IF you have enough rhino tusk powder!!!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Lee, and I've heard the stories about people getting caught with illegal owl feathers. But I've also heard that you can legally buy polar bear, I think there was a vendor in Canada. I thought about buying a patch, but it was pretty expensive for a 2" x 2" patch so I've just stuck with substitutes. :-)

[@SavageFlies]

Cool story Ken! I know some folks in Alaska, but have never known anyone who ever killed a polar bear. I imagine those things are huge! I wouldn't want to mess with one. :-)

[@SavageFlies]

That's funny Eddie. That must have been why I got skunked my last time out. Not enough rhino tusk powder. :-)

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Tying flies I’ll never use. I don’t know that I won’t ever use them so if I have the materials I’ll give them a whirl. It helps me learn to tie different materials and get my techniques better ( lord knows they could stand more improvement ). When the fish are finicky that’s a good opportunity to throw something out there they have never seen before. Might just get their attention. If you don’t… it don’t matter you weren’t before anyway. Besides a bad day fishing is better than good day working. I need another cup of coffee, I see Jim was on his second an hour ago. I’m falling behind. 😀

[@SavageFlies]

That's a great philosophy John. If I'm not catching anything with my go-to patterns, I'll just throw something crazy at them. I was getting skunked on the Savage one day so just tied on some crazy streamer to see how it looked in the water. A blue bodied, silver rib, white marabout tail, black bear hair wing, with krystal flash topping. Something I totally made up that I thought looked cool. So I was pulling it through the water thinking this thing is crap. A black blob that all you could see was the flash. So instead of stripping like you do when fishing a streamer, I just started reeling it in so I could change it out. I wasn't paying much attention when a 20+ inch wild brown swam laterally about six feet across the current to smash it. It caught me totally off guard, I panicked, and set the hook too hard too quickly. Yanking the fly out of his mouth and into the trees behind me. Anyway, I've still never caught a fish with that fly, but for a brief few seconds it had me excited. Now you've got me thinking. Maybe I should resurrect this fly and give it another shot. :-)

[@wilsonrobey2009]

Do you ever tie short strike hooks on your flies?