The Alexandra wet fly originated in Scotland in the 1860s. The
artificial fly is also known as the Lady of the Lake, the fly was named by English angler Major William Greer Turle to honor
Alexandra, Princess of Wales. The fly is distinguished by the heavy peacock herl wing and silver body which makes the fly resemble a small baitfish or fry. The Alexandra proved to be a very effective fly for trout in lakes and streams in England and Scotland in the late 19th and early 20th century. Many
fly fishing purists derided the fly and its use was once banned on many English waters.
Origin
The 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 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
Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 January 1901 to 6 May 1910 as the wife of ...
, the daughter-in-law of
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
and then known as the
Princess of Wales (1863 to 1901). Turle was a chalkstream angler with water on the
River Test
The River Test is a chalk stream in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises at Ashe near Basingstoke and flows southwards for to Southampton Water. Settlements on the Test include the towns of Stockbridge and Romsey. Below the village of ...
near
Newton Stacey. He learned
fly tying
Fly tying (also historically referred to in England as dressing flies) is the process of producing an artificial fly used by fly fishing anglers to catch fish. Fly tying is a manual process done by a single individual using hand tools and a va ...
from
George Selwyn Marryat and was a close associate of
Frederic M. Halford.
Imitates
The Alexandra is an attractor pattern most likely taken as a small baitfish or fry.
Materials
The Alexandra is typically tied on a 2X/3X long streamer hook with black thread. A TMC 5262 2X long streamer hook would be typical. The tail is typically a few strands of red ibis or goose primary feather. The body is silver tinsel or mylar with an oval tinsel rib. A red floss tag is optional. The underwing is typically strips of red ibis or goose primary feather. The over wing, which distinguishes the Alexandra, is made of six to ten strands of
peacock
Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera '' Pavo'' and '' Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are r ...
herl from peacock swords. The fly is hackled wet fly style with brown or black hen or cock hackle.
Variations
Typical variations include the use of mottled turkey feather for the underwing, peacock herl for the tail and beads or cones for weight.
Controversy
The "Alexandra", although a successful fly, was not always welcome on the chalk streams of Southern England.
Gallery
References
{{Fly fishing
Wet fly patterns