Coachman Brown Chickabou Body Marabou Patch

Coachman Brown Ewing Chickabou Marabou Body Patch

Coachman Brown is a rich, dark chocolate brown named after the old Coachman fly. It’s the color of crawfish in a rocky river, sculpins on a dark bottom, and stonefly nymphs on basalt.

Coachman Brown Ewing Chickabou gives you deep brown fibers that look natural in almost any water. It’s my crawfish color for bass and my streamer color for brown trout when olive isn’t working.

Smallmouth, largemouth, brown trout, rainbows, carp and redfish.

Recipe 1: Coachman Brown Chickabou Craw

• Hook: Jig hook, #2–#6
• Head: Tungsten jig bead or slotted bead, 3.8–4.6 mm
• Thread: Brown 6/0
• Claws: Two Coachman Brown Ewing Chickabou plumes, splayed
• Antennae: Two brown or orange rubber legs
• Body: Brown crawfish dubbing, with a brown saddle palmered
• Back: Brown Thin Skin, pulled over and ribbed

Tying:

On a jig hook, the fly rides point-up and dives head-first, just like a crawfish fleeing. Tie the claws at the bend so they trail behind and flare open on every hop.

How to fish:

Bass relate to rocks and wood. Cast to the base of the structure, let it sink to the bottom, then hop it 6 inches and let it fall. Most bites come as it falls. Watch your line for a twitch.

Recipe 2: Coachman Brown Chickabou Marabou Muddler

• Hook: 3XL streamer, #4–#8
• Thread: Brown 6/0
• Tail: Small tuft of red or brown chickabou
• Body: Gold tinsel or gold Mylar
• Wing: Coachman Brown Ewing Chickabou, full plume, with a few strands of gold flash
• Collar and head: Natural deer hair, spun and trimmed into a Muddler head

Tying:

Tie the chickabou wing long, past the bend, and leave the deer-hair collar fibers untrimmed underneath. The head pushes water while the wing breathes behind it.

How to fish:

Fish it on a floating line in fall for brown trout. Cast tight to the bank, then swing or strip it back with sharp twitches. In late evening, you can even skate it across the surface.