I really miss the "like" button of facebook here ;-)
Would say that your definition is a very fine guide to an outline of what a spey fly is in the broadest sense if it is still to reckognised as a spey fly, even when tied in contemporary style ;-) My only critique would be that this definition would include flies tied for river Dee in the strictest sense and as such is not defining for the original tying tradition of river Spey. But that would be nit picking I guess ;-) For me the more colourful contemporary spey flies fits better with what would and could be considered classic dee flies. They tend to be more gaudy and to include tags, tips and tails etc. and there is a greater variety in wing styles.
A suggestion for a starting point for a more strict definition of spey flies, that could create a clear(er) distinction between spey and dee flies could be this old description that I have copied from
http://www.feathersfliesandphantoms.co.uk/spey_flies_49.html
Funny that he include the lady Caroline, which we know has a tail and notice in particular his description of the wings ... which doesn't fit with how we do it today. In other words the tying of spey flies has evolved greatly since then, to such a degree that we could even discuss if what we tie as classic speys are classic at all ;-)
How to tie Spey Flies - by William Brown, tackle maker, Aberdeen
Browns Spey flies, 24th Jan 1891, R.B. Marston, Fishing Gazette
I must content myself this week with giving illustrations for two favourites, the Lady Caroline and the Carron, and some most useful remarks on the dressing of Spey flies generally, kindly sent to me by Mr. Brown, of George Street, Aberdeen, who makes these and all other standard salmon flies to perfection.
Mr. Brown says:-
“To describe the dressing of a Spey fly generally, and not any pattern in particular, I think the clearest plan would be to follow the tabulated form used in the Badminton volume on “Fishing,” when describing the ordinary standard flies, which would show these particular constructions differ in their in their respective parts from the well known standards. Thus, an ordinary fancy fly, with say a wool or fur body, would have all the parts which are indicated in italics, where as the Spey fly takes only those that are described, viz:-
“Tag. – None.
“Tail. – None.
“Butt. – None.
“Body. – Usually consists of common wool mixed or dyed to the shade of colour required, and wrapped round the body tightly. There is no picking out or “furriness” about the body of a Spey fly; and it is begun on the shank in a line with the point of the hook, it has a dumpy disproportionate appearance.
“Ribbed. – There are invariably three tinsels down the body – a flat, and two threads; one of the threads silver, the other gold (on some patterns these are replaced by coloured silk threads). The flat and one thread is wound round the body in three turns, room being left for the second thread, which is not wound until after the hackle is put on.
“Hackle. – The hackle is perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the Spey fly, and the greatest puzzle both to amateur and professional fly-tiers. It is not, properly speaking a hackle, but it is taken off that part of the cock which might be called the ‘saddle,’ or near the tail. The best feathers hang with a graceful curve from the root of the tail down the side of it, and when the fibres are extended to right angles with the stem, they will be found to be of equal length butt to tip, not tapering as in a hackle. The feather thus described is very soft in fibre, and when dressed on the fly, has a very different appearance to the ordinary cock’s hackle, and a very different effect in the water.
Now as the hackle of the Spey fly differs from ordinary hackles, so does the manner of putting it on. The ordinary standard fly has the hackle tied in, or begun, at the small tip or point. The Spey fly has it tied in, or begun, at the butt or thick end of the stem. Having cleaned off the downiest part of the fibre at the butt-end, and left just a little of the gray (as sort of half ‘down,’ half fibre), and having seen that the fibre is long enough to extend about half an inch beyond the bend of the hook – the stem is tied in at the very commencement of the body, along with the tinsels. When the two tinsels – a flat and a thread – have been wound to the right hand, the hackle is taken and wound to the left hand. The tinsel is then wound to the right, parallel with the other two, and across the hackle stem at every turn. When fixed, a needle is required to relieve those fibres of the hackle which may have been tied down by the crossing tinsel. The fly is ready for the –
“Throat Hackle, which is generally teal, wound in the ordinary fashion.
“Wings are generally two double strips of brown mallard, not extending much above the length of the body, and set to permit the natural curve of the feather. The two wings are set quite apart, and are put on separately.
“Sides. – None.
“Horns. – None.
“Head. – Black silk.”
And here's a picture of a vintage Green King fly from the same site, that show an ancient fly that has survived the sands of time. What a fine - and different fly. Wonder how it would be received in this forum ;-)
Knæk og bræk
Søren