The dressing for this Lee Blue (1), is taken from "Irish Trout & Salmon Flies" by Ted Malone. On page 235 we find once again different versions of the same fly. This is not unusual with Irish flies as many salmon fly fishermen often changed a standard pattern so as to suit the rivers that they frequented. In his very informative book "Classic Salmon Flies" Frodin writes "this typical Irish salmon fly is described by Kelson as a very old pattern from the river Lee. Hardy and Hale provide the same pattern for this blue salmon fly as Kelson. The river Lee meanders through the lush Irish countryside at a swift rate, and in many places it narrows and forms fine pools and currents that are perfect for salmon fly fishing. Francis-Francis describes the Lee as a fine spring river that is carefully preserved by the local Co. Cork Salmon Club.
Mr. Haynes, the originator of the Lee Blue, also contributed many other fine patterns to the collection by Francis-Francis in his "A Book on Angling". Kelson describes another Lee Blue in his massive book "The Salmon Fly" and it differs from the pattern presented below. In Pryce Tannatt's book "How to Dress Salmon Flies" (1914), there is a section on salmon flies for Ireland. Among these is a fly called the Lemon & Blue. This pattern differs from the Lee Blue in that the wing is not the same, while the body etc. is identical. This could be a later version of the Lee Blue.


The Dressing: (from Malone)

Tag: Silver wire and yellow floss.
Tail: A topping, Golden Pheasant tippets.
Body: Light blue floss.
Ribs: Oval silver.
Hackle: A light blue cock hackle.
Throat: A yellow cock hackle.
Wings: Two golden pheasant tippets back to back, and then married sections of yellow, blue and red dyed Swan, Golden Pheasant tail, Teal and Bronze Mallard over.
Head: Black Ostrich herl.