The very fact the
Alder has lasted over the last 300 years is solid proof of the
popularity of this dressing; each of the many consecutive generations
of fly fishers proving it is and always has been a success on
the water.
"This fly comes from a water nympha. It is earlier on some
water than on others. It lays its eggs upon the leaves of trees
which over hang the water, and delights to skim the brook, but
it may also be found at some distance from it. It is in season
from about the last week in May until the end of June". Alfred
Ronald 1836
Dressing
Hook : 10
- 16 Dry fly up eye
Silk: Crimson or black
Body : Magenta dyed peacock herl or Mulberry floss
silk
Rib (optional): 2 - 4lb clear nylon monofilament
Wing: Brown speckled hen wing quill
Hackle: Dark umber stained hackle or black dye cock hackle
Tying
Instructions
1. Start the
silk on the hookshank and take it down to the bend. Ti in
3 - 4 strands of peacock herl or a length of floss silk and
monofilament rib if wanted.
2. Take the silk up to the head and
then we can make the body. There are two ways of doing this.
They are as follows:-
a. Take hold of all the peacock herls and gently twist them
into a 'rope'. Gently at first, wrap the rope up the
shank in close touching turns. Tie in at head end leaving
enough room for the wing and the hackle in front of that.
Trim waste and cover the ends with a layer of thread.
b. Wrap the herls up the shank one at a time, gently at first
so you don't break them, in close touching turns. Tie off
at head - trim waste and cover the ends with thread. Next,
take hold of the mono and rib it up the body in, not to open
turns, in the opposite direction to the way the herls were
wound. This increases the durability of the peacock herl quit
a bit.
I prefer the later method as
the overall appearance of the body looks a 100% better.
If your using floss instead, then build a nice gradual taper
from tail to head in the body, as on most other floss bodied
floss.
Cut off any waste materials and cover the ends with the silk
making a flat, even bed of silk ready to put the wings on.
3. Next is the wings, again there are two ways of doing this;
they are as flows:-
a .Take two slips of hen quill, one from the left hand feather
and one from the right. Place together so that the natural
curve of the slips are facing each other and offer it up to
the hook shank for length, you want it about ½ a hook length
beyond the bend. Pinch the wing to the shank and put two soft
turns of silk over the feather slips under your finger and
thumb, then pull down on the silk slowly but continually until
it wont pull down any further. Still holding the wing tight,
put a further 4 to 5 turns of silk over the wing root, then
you'll be able to take away your fingers to see how the wing
looks. If happy with it, trim waste feather butts. Cover with
a layer of silk to make an even bed for the hackle.
b. Take a hen wing quill, it doesn't matter much which way
it faces, whether it's a left hand quill or a right. Stroke
the fibres out at right angles to the quill or as much as
possible without badly splitting it. Continue to stroke the
fibres while pulling down wards and you'll find it a lot easier.
When done, cut a piece of feather about 3 - 4 times the width
of the wing that you want, then from the bottom of the slip,
with the bad side of the wing quill facing up at you fold
the bottom of the slip over a width equal to the size of the
wing wanted: then fold over again and again until the wing
slip is used up.
In effect, making a single rolled wing. This is then applied
to the back of the fly and tied in as before. Trim waste.
4. Tie in a black cock hackle in front
of the wing.
5. Take
hold of the cock hackle with a pair of hackle pliers and take
the silk up to the eye of the hook. Then start winding the
hackle up the hook in front of the wing in close touching
turns to make a nice 'bushy collar' - a least 5 turns of the
feather is needed but more can be used on the bigger sizes.
Tie in at head and trim waste. Build a small neat head. Whip
finish and varnish to complete.
Once the fly is finished, it should look
similar to this.
