WiFlyfisher wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:08 am(
Royal Coachman / family of Royal fly patterns has a wonderful history all the way up to the Cross' Quack Royal. I always have some Royal Trudes on me, it has saved many a summer outing out West.)
WiFlyfisher John,
A chapter of Paul Schullery's book
Royal Coachman is devoted to the history of the Royal Coachman. Tom Bosworth, carriage driver for English Kings and Queens, is credited with designing the Coachman wet fly in the early 1800s, but the Royal Coachman was the brainchild of Mr. John Haily of New York City in about 1878. Haily was a professional fly tyer who tied flies for the Charles F. Orvis Company. Charles' brother L.C. Orvis suggested the snappy name "Royal Coachman". Schullery describes the Royal Coachman as "the first great American fly pattern". Thus, I believe the Royal lineage -- or at least the "Royal" name -- began with Haily and Orvis.
Datus Proper points out that the only difference between a Royal Coachman and an ant pattern contained in Aldam's
A Quaint Treatise in 1876 is the color of the wing!
Greenwell John, is this true? You are the only source I know of with access to Aldam's book. Even scanned digital copies are unavailable despite the pre-copyright publication date.