FLY
Classic Wet Fly
Alexandra
Tied by Christian Andrews
Alexandra recipe
| Hook | #6 wet fly |
|---|---|
| Thread | black |
| Tag | silver tinsel under red floss |
| Tail | Peacock swords (or red feather barbs) |
| Rib | silver oval tinsel |
| Body | silver tinsel |
| Underwing | light gray quill |
| Overwing | peacock swords |
| Overwing 2 | red quill |
| Collar | black hen hackle |
About this fly
tied from the illustration in Favorite Flies and Their Histories (1892) by Mary Orvis Marbury More traditionally. or less???, this fly is tied with a shorter red tail and no underwing.
What the Alexandra imitates
- Fancy / attractor (imitates nothing specific)
Where the Alexandra came from
- Originated by unnamed narrator quoted in Kelson, 1848, Britain. Quoted narrator says he introduced the 'Alexandra fly' in 1848; speaker identity unclear.Source: Kelson, The Salmon Fly (1895), pp.261-262
- Originated by Dr. Hobbs, England. Marbury: invented by Dr. Hobbs some years before; it came into great favour in England and was believed to be so taking that its use was forbidden on some streams. Named after Princess Alexandra.Source: Marbury, Favorite Flies and Their Histories (1892), p.139 No.36
- Named by General Gerald Goodlake, England. First named 'Lady of the Lake' by Goodlake, later renamed for Princess Alexandra.Source: Marbury, Favorite Flies and Their Histories (1892), p.139 No.36
- Named by Major William Greer Turle, England. Credited with renaming it Alexandra after the Princess of Wales.Source: Wikipedia: Alexandra (wet fly)
- Originated by unknown, Scotland. 1860s by an unknown angler of Scottish origin, as Lady of the Lake.Source: Wikipedia: Alexandra (wet fly), citing Bates, Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing (1966), p.217
Where sources tell it differently, each account is listed with its own source.
In the old books
Original dressing as pictured in Marbury, Favorite Flies and Their Histories (1892), Plate E, No. 36. The photo above is a later tie, not the original.
Inside the vault every material on this fly opens to its own card, and you can save the fly to your own boxes.
