What is the most authoritative pattern for the original royal coachman (tying it for a swap)?
There was a fly of the week here from Mike Holt that listed what he called the original…
Also what are these: " A standard length sproat hook size 10-2"
And where can I get them?
Rawfish,
Also what are these: " A standard length sproat hook size 10-2"
These for the RC? If so, you might want to consider 2XL hooks. The pattern will look much better proportioned.
Good luck with the swap.
Hans W
J. Edson Leonard “Flies” 1950) calls for white wings, brown hackle, body of peacock herl with red floss center joint, tail of gold pheasant tippet. He also lists eight other variations including a bivisible.
Paul
“Sproat” refers to a particular bend shape used mostly on wet fly hooks. The Mustad 3906 would be an example. Hans is probably right that they would look better with a longer hook.
thanks all,
What is a 2xl hook…are we talking a regular double length streamer or something funkier, I want nice hooks on these dudes! If I figure out how to do it right, I would love to frame one as well, I think they are beautiful flies.
Typically 2xl means two eye lengths. Some will say 2 times long. Just a long shank version in most cases.
Here is a great link to hook info.
[http://www.eflytyer.com/materials/hook_info.html](http://www.eflytyer.com/materials/hook_info.html)2XL means that the hook shank is the same length as a hook, 2 sizes larger. For example a size 14 2XL will have the same shank length as a size 12 hook. Mustad 94831 is a very nice 2XL dry fly hook that may suit your purposes. Remember there is no standardization between hook companies as far as sizes or anything else goes. Dai Riki hooks run a little shorter shank lengths than most others, so a Dai Riki size 14 2XL will be shorter than a Mustad size 14 2XL. Confused yet?, so is everyone else. It is just something we have to get used to. The good news is that in trout sizes most companies are close in size.
My recollection of shank length designations is the same as Ron Mason’s. I confirmed it by three sources. It might be pretty close to adding an eye length though. Anyway it?s probably more than Rawfish wanted to know. A 2XL is a little longer shanked hook 
This site describes the hook shank length per the above
http://www.fedflyfishers.org/materials.php
Heres some history on the coachman
Rawfish,
If you want the ‘original’ dressing, you’ll have to go back a ways (how ‘far’ back you go will undoutably determine what fly you end up tying). That can be found by a little research.
However, even though I understand why a long shank might ‘look’ better, I’ll personally doubt that the ‘originals’ were tied on such a hook. If the fly tyers of yesteryear wanted a ‘larger’ fly (That’s what you get with a ‘longer’ hook, right?) they would have just used a ‘larger’ hook to go with it.
The ‘standard’ sproat bend hook would have been most likely a Mustad in the 3366-3399-3906 genre. All are still available today.
Good Luck!
Buddy
Here is something that might be of interest:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/oldflies/part196.html