Alexandra (wet fly)

Alexandra
Artificial fly
Alexandra
Type	Wet fly
Imitates	Baitfish, attractor pattern
History
Creator	Unknown of Scottish origin
Created	1860s, named by W.G. Turle
Other names	Lady of the lake
Materials
Typical sizes	6–10
Thread	Black 6/0 nylon
Tail	Red ibis, swan or goose wing feather
Body	Silver tinsel
Wing	Six or more strands of peacock herl over red ibis, swan or goose wing feather
Ribbing	Fine oval silver tinsel
Hackle	Black or brown tied wet
Head	Black thread
Uses
Primary use	Trout, salmon lakes and rivers
Reference(s)
Pattern references	Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing, (1966) Bates[1]

The Alexandra wet fly is an artificial fly. Also known as the Lady of the Lake, the fly was named by English angler Major William Greer Turle to honour 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.^{[citation needed]}