Alexandra — Lady of the Lake

By Unknown 1860s England, submitted by Mike Cline.

Description

The Alexandra wet fly originated as the Lady of the Lake in the 1860s by an unknown angler, primarily for trout in lakes. The fly gained popularity because it was extremely effective when fished slowly on sinking lines. Anglers began using the fly in rivers for sea trout and Atlantic salmon with success. It was so effective, that it was allegedly banned from some waters. In the late 19th century, Major William Greer Turle (March 1839 – January 1909), a prominent English angler, renamed the fly Alexandra to honor Alexandra of Denmark, the daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria and then known as the Princess of Wales (1863 to 1901). Turle was a chalk-stream angler with water on the River Test near Newton Stacey. He learned fly tying from George Selwyn Marryat and was a close associate of Frederic M. Halford.

Materials

• Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
• Hackle: Brown Hen
• Ribbing: Oval Tinsel
• Tail: Red duck/goose feather fibers
• Thread: UTC 140 Black
• Wing: Peacock Herl

Hooks

• Standard wet fly

Target species: Atlantic Salmon, Trout

Fly types: Streamer, Wet Fly