Salmon Fly Fishing History Part 3
ALEXANDRA |
This fly, at least in its trout form, according to A. Courtney Williams, has been in existence since at least 1860. The Alexandra uses the “sword” tail feathers of the peacock, the fibres are quite short, hence the fly rarely exceeds a length of 1 ins. Hook size: 3/4ins. to 1 1/8ins. Tail: Scarlet Ibis*. Body: Flat silver tinsel. Rib: Oval silver tinsel. Throat: Black or Badger cock hackle. Wings: Herl from the “sword” feather of the tail of the peacock. Cheeks: Jungle cock. Head: Black varnish. *Substitute: Scarlet Ibis - any white feather such as goose, dyed scarlet. |
| This well-known fly is believed to have been named after Lady Caroline Gordon – Lennox of the Gordon family, Gordon Castle, Fochabers.Hook size: 1 1/2ins. to 2 1/2ins. Tail: Golden Pheasant breast feathers in strands. Body: Olive green and light brown Berlin wools wound together (side by side), one strand green, two strands brown. Ribs: Flat silver tinsel, oval silver and oval gold tinsel. Hackle: A grey Heron* or similar, tied in butt first, at the “bend” end of the body. Throat: Golden Pheasant breast feather. Wings: Brown Mallard shoulder strips. Head: Black varnish.*Substitute: Heron is no longer available - try to find a long grey cock saddle hackle, or similar. |
LADY CAROLINE |
CARRONHINTS/TIPSThe final rib is wound anti-clockwise, (in the opposite direction from the other tinsel(s) and body hackle, ensure the hackle fibres are not trapped during this procedure).On large flies, the body hackle should de doubled, on smaller flies, strip off one side of the hackle.
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The name of this fly suggests it may have originated, or received its title from the Carron beat on the Spey, which is situated between Aberlour and Ballindalloch. Mr A.E. Knox refers to the Carron in his book “Autumns on the Spey” published in 1872, and alleges it to be an old pattern.Hook size: 1 1/2ins. to 2 1/2ins. Body: Orange Berlin wool. Ribs: Flat silver tinsel, scarlet floss, and round silver tinsel. Hackle: A black Heron’s hackle* (from the fourth turn of tinsel). Throat: Teal. Wings: Brown Mallard shoulder strips. Head: Black varnish.*Substitute: Heron is no longer available - try to find a long dark cock saddle hackle, Blue Eared Pheasant or common Cock Pheasant rump hackle, dyed/coloured to suit the application. |
PART 4 – DEE STRIP - WING FLIES
Here again, we have a style that developed locally in a very individual fashion.
The flies were generally tied on “long Dee” hooks up to 3ins. long, and utilised a far wider range of materials than the Spey flies; - dyed seals fur, floss silks, Jungle Cock feathers, Golden Pheasant tippet and toppings etc. Wings were slips from various colours of Turkey tails feathers, tied flat, such that viewing them from above, they flared out from the head in a “vee” shape.
Their popularity, especially as early spring and late autumn flies, lasted well into the 20 th century, in much the same way the Beauly Snow Fly.
| This is perhaps the most well known of all the Dee Strip – Wing flies, designed by and named after Mr. Charles H. Akroyd of Brora, in 1875. The same pattern, but using white turkey for the wings, the White – Winged Ackroyd, was also popular.Hook size: 1 1/2ins. to 3ins. Tag: Silver tinsel, (flat). Tail: Golden Pheasant topping, and tippets in strands. Body: First half, light orange seal’s fur, second half, black floss. Ribs: Oval silver tinsel over the seal’s fur, flat silver tinsel over the black floss. Hackles: Lemon cock hackle over the seal’s fur, black Heron’s hackle* over the black floss. Throat: Teal. Wings: A pair of cinnamon Turkey strips set flat. Cheeks: Jungle Cock (drooping). Head: Black varnish. *Substitute: Heron is no longer available - try to find a long dark cock saddle hackle, Blue Eared Pheasant or common Cock Pheasant rump hackle, dyed/coloured to suit the application. |
Akroyd |
HINTS/TIPS
A furnace hackle is reddish with dark central area around the stem.
A cochybondhu hackle is similar, but is also dark at the outer edge of the fibres.
With a few exceptions, most hackles on salmon flies are “doubled” before they are tied in by their tip, a description of the “doubling” process (for right handed people) follows.
Grip the hackle by it's tip, between the forefinger and thumb of the left hand, then, using the forefinger and thumb of the right hand, pull the fibres to the right such that they are at right angles to the stem, at this point also remove any unwanted fluffy fibres from the base of the stem.
With the shiny side of the hackle facing away from your body, fix the base of the stem in your hackle pliers, which is then held in the palm of your right hand by your middle, ring and little fingers. With the left forefinger and thumb holding the hackle tip, and the hackle pliers in the right hand as described, using the moistened forefinger and thumb of the right hand, pull the hackle fibres down and back several times until they stay “doubled.
Before tying the hackle by it's tip, use your scissors to reduce some of the fibres to tiny stubs, if you do this the hackle is less likely to slip when it is rotated around the hook shank, also, of course, ensure the tying thread is well waxed at all times.