|
Fly fishing and fly
tying books are a passion. Here you will find book reviews of books I have
read covering fly fishing for trout, smallmouth bass, muskellunge,
steelhead, and many other freshwater and saltwater species. You will also
find fly tying books covering the same areas. There are also books on
aquatic entomology, history of fly fishing and fly tying, hydrology, and
great prose having fly fishing as its main theme. There is far more to fly
fishing than casting a line, and there should be far more to a fly fishing
guide service web site than just costs and services offered.
Fishy's Flies
by Jay "Fishy" Fullum
Stackpole Books
Mechanicsburg PA, 2002
68 pages, softbound
illustrated, B&W
suggested price $$9.95
reviewed by
Bruce E. Harang
This
is one of the best surprises the year for the fly tier. A small volume in
size but a gigantic volume in fun and novel fly tying techniques and
materials. In only 68 pages of text and wonderfully clear line drawings the
author teaches how to tie twenty-seven different fly patterns he has
created. Here you will find foam hoppers, epoxy ants, craneflies,
stickleback minnows, and stoneflies tied with plastic canvas, lipped
poppers, and bead-chain crabs. Each and everyone tied using novel materials
found in out of the way places and products designed for all manner of uses
other than fly tying.
But
don't let the fun and novelty fool you. These flies are both very fishable
and very durable. If you are a natural materials traditionalist you may have
a bit of a psychological barrier to overcome. After all using an electric
pencil sharpener on a bit of balsa wood to make a popper body, or to cut a
piece of needlepoint plastic canvas to create a stonefly takes just a bit of
loosening up mentally. The warm-water and saltwater tiers will not have this
problem to the same extent as they are used to using all manner of synthetic
material in their everyday fly tying.. Once over this hurdle however, the
reader will be surprised on how much fun and how effective flies designed by
the author can be.
Overall this slim volume provides the fly tier with interesting, fun, and
effective materials and techniques for tying a larger variety of effective
fishing flies. With a retail price of under $10.00 the reader receives his
moneys worth and much more. For innovative and inquisitive fly tiers this
book is a must.
©
2002 Bruce E. Harang
The Practical Fly Tier
by Royce Dam
Stackpole Books
Mechanicsburg PA, 2002
110 pages, hardbound
illustrated, color
suggested price $$29.95
reviewed by
Bruce E. Harang
Royce
Dam is one of the finest fly tiers I have had the privilege to watch and to
chat with. He is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet, as well
as an effective teacher. Royce' use of carded wool for fly bodies is
extremely effective. It is also very easy to learn. If this was all that was
taught in this book it would be more than worth its purchase price.
Fortunately, for all of us that tie flies, Royce didn't stop with a
discussion of making and using carded wool for fly tying. Instead he has
produced a book chuck full of useful practical fly tying techniques. You
will not find a finer volume of practical fly tying methods allowing you,
the fly tier, to produce beautiful, functional, and effective flies. Every
technique is clearly explained in easy steps. Each step is illustrated by
high quality photo images by Thom Beck. Thom clearly understands
microphotography as well as Royce understands fly tying. The photos are all
well exposed, well focused, and make the procedure in question the center
point of each photograph. The only point I would have liked to have seen in
the photos would be to have removed the support from some of the fly shots
as they tend to distract a bit from the flies themselves.
Royce
provides comprehensive chapters on tying wet flies, dry flies, nymphs, and
streamers. In each section he also starts each section with clear concise
descriptions of tying techniques needed to be successful tying these flies.
Along with the opening chapter on tools the reader has an extremely useful
learning program. This reader was pleasantly surprised at the amount of good
information the author has packed into only five chapters.
The
overall layout, design and editing are of the highest quality. Mark Van
Patten and Art Scheck desire recognition for doing such good work in this
area. Most readers never consciously look at these areas of a book. However,
most readers instinctively know when a book seems easy, or hard, to read.
The difference between the two types of books is the quality of the layout
and editing. Royce's book is a prime example of a book that is easy to read.
If
you tie flies at any level this book is a must addition to your library.
©
2002 Bruce E. Harang
Great Smoky
Mountains National Park
Angler's Companion
by Ian Rutter
Frank Amato Publications,
Inc.
Portland, OR, 2002
67 pages, softbound
illustrated, color
suggested price $$16.95
reviewed by
Bruce E. Harang
If you
would like a good starting point for fishing in the nation's most popular
national park this book is the one to read. Ian Rutter guided in the Park
for a number of years and has first hand knowledge of the streams he
describes. The book is divided into two major sections; fishing in the Park
and stream descriptions. The first section on fishing in the Park is broken
down into sections on the streams, the fish, the fishing seasons, the
fishing methods and the flies as well as a short introduction describing the
symbols used throughout the book. The second section breaks the Park down
around five base areas and describes in greater detail the streams in each
of these areas as well as how to access them and what to use once you get
there.
The author includes directions to the streams as well as
directions to camp grounds, parking areas, and lodging. By breaking the Park
into five areas centered around a base-camp location he has proved the
visiting angler with a realistic and accurate perspective of what waters are
accessible from where around the park.
The book is nicely written and accompanied by excellent
photographs of the Park, its streams and its fish. For anyone wanting to
fish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this book will get you to the
right places at the right times and with the correct gear. Well done.
©
2003 Bruce E. Harang
Tying Flies with CDC
by
Leon Links
Stackpole Books
Mechanicsburg PA, 2002
158 pages, hardbound
illustrated, color
suggested price $24.95
reviewed by
Bruce E. Harang
The
feathers around the preen gland of waterfowl have a structure like no other
feather. Called Cul de Canard by some and CDC by others, this feather has a
remarkable ability to entice fish to take a fly upon which it is tied. Up
until now however, accurate information on the history, origin, and patterns
utilizing this wonderful fly tying material have been very hard to come by.
With this book the author has provided a first major step in correcting this
situation. The author traces the history of the use of CDC in flies. Where
the use of the material started, how it is used, and backgrounds of many of
the people who have been instrumental in using and fishing flies
incorporating CDC feathers.
The book also discusses various methods of fishing flies
incorporating CDC feathers. Also included is information on how to use CDC
for tying nymphs, emergers, and wet flies as well as dry flies.
There are interesting comments on methods of tying with CDC but
unfortunately the methods themselves are not disclosed. Likewise, while a
good number of patterns using CDC are illustrated most have no recipe or
tying instructions. In addition, the images of the flies are such that a
tier will have a most difficult time trying to understand the patterns
illustrated. In this respect the book is a major disappointment.
For those few patterns having tying instructions and step-by-step images the
work is excellently done. The printing and editing is also very well done.
One can only hope that the lack of information was a publishing decision and
that the author will publish more information in subsequent works.
The book is clearly worth owning and does provide information
that has been very difficult to find previously concerning the use of CDC in
flies.
©
2003 Bruce E. Harang
Trout from Small Streams
by Dave Hughes
Stackpole Books
Mechanicsburg PA, 2002
167 pages, hardbound
not illustrated
suggested price $16.95
reviewed by
Bruce E. Harang
Dave
Hughes has once again produced an outstanding fly fishing book. It is also
very refreshing in format as it is a text only layout without the now
popular and over exploited photograph or drawing for every thought. Once
again Dave Hughes work has reminded me in a most favorable way of the
writing style, and intellectual level, of G. E. M. Skues.
For the fly fisherman that is interested in learning about or
learning more about small stream trout fishing this book is a must read.
With information on stream geology, gear, flies and methods to fish them,
this book has compiled a complete course is small stream trout fishing.
Because the book has no illustrations the reader does not have
try to memorize charts, graphs, and drawings and then try to find them on
his water. Instead, the words invoke memories of the fisherman's own
outings, and his own water. Instead of trying to force the reader to place
his water into the book, the information allows the reader to more
instinctively use the proper gear, fly, and presentation for the water he is
actually on at that moment. The proper presentation becomes more like a
reflex action. Learning by having his own streams brought to mind allows the
reader to become more productive and have more fun on the water he fishes.
The author�s writing style is concise, lucid, and easy to read
and understand. The reader gets the feeling that the words are carefully
chosen to present the idea at hand and nothing more. Reading a book by Dave
Hughes becomes a sharing of ideas across a campfire or in front of a winter
fireplace. It is personal and friendly. There is always a grin or chuckle
just beneath the surface of every topic. This book is like an afternoon or
evening with a favorite fishing partner, fun, reflective, and informative
without ceremony and social posturing.
The publisher's choice of font and page layout only adds to the
ease of reading and understanding. This book exhibits a subtle but extremely
well done publishing effort.
For any fly fisherman that wishes to fish for trout in small
streams this is one of the finest courses you can ever take. A must read for
all small stream fly fishermen and a book that needs to be in your library.
©
2003 Bruce E. Harang
Tying Contemporary
Saltwater Flies
by David Klausmeyer
Countryman Press
Woodstock, VT 2002
152 pages, hardbound
illustrated, Color
suggested price, $45.00
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
David
Klausmeyer is a name familiar to most fly tyers. His books on tying are
considered by many to be some of the best ever done. This book is no
exception. For the fly tyer that wants to learn to tie saltwater flies
popular today this book is a dream come true.
The author starts with a short concise chapter on the
tools and materials that are central to the tying of saltwater flies without
losing the reader with a long winded discourse on fly tying basics. The rest
of the book is broken down into six chapters. Each chapter shows
step-by-step how to tie a particular style of saltwater fly using both clear
text and outstanding photographs. The styles covered are Basic Flies; Small
Baitfish patterns; Tarpon flies, Shrimp, Squid, & Eels patterns; Flats
Flies, and flies based on using epoxy and silicone. Then most chapters
conclude with a selection of flies of that style tied by saltwater guides
and anglers that have used them extensively. These flies are illustrated
with the same high quality images and full recipes as well as comments by
the tyer in most cases.
If you are interested in learning to tie first class saltwater
flies this book will certainly get you well on your way. If you are already
tying saltwater patterns but would like to improve your tying and the
durability of your flies this is also the book for you.
The editing and printing of this book is excellent. There are a
few text errors but nothing that will prevent you from clearly understanding
what the author is trying to say and teach.
There are not a lot of saltwater fly tying books. This latest
entry is clearly a contender for the number one spot.
©
2003 Bruce E. Harang
Found in a River
by Jeff Bright
Frank Amato Publications, Inc.
Portland, OR, 2002
73 pages, hardbound
illustrated, color
suggested price $19.95
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
This small volume is a
wonderful interlude of peace in a busy world by a man who has refused to
loose the wide eyed wonder of childhood. A collection of poems vividly
describing the ephemeral qualities of the Steelhead Rainbow Trout
accompanied by photographic images that evoke a dreamlike vision of being on
a river with them. The author brings to reality the emotional soul of why
some of us cast a fly, in the worst weather, for a fish seldom caught in
large numbers. Like a sailor always believing a mermaid is possible, so to
the steelheader believes that a steelhead on the end of the line is just as
possible.
If you are a steelheader you will smile and feel the passion of
being on the river casting repeatedly on belief alone. If you have never
cast a fly for this great fish, curl up in a quiet corner with this book,
open your mind and your heart and you may just be able to glimpse the spirit
of a steelhead swimming through your future.
The editing and photography are beautifully adapted to the text
and the emotions they evoke. Extremely well done and well worth the price of
admission.
One of the purest reading pleasures to have been printed in a
long time.
©
2003 Bruce E. Harang
Mayflies "Top to Bottom"
by Shane Stalcup
Frank Amato Publications, Inc.
Portland, OR, 2002
158 pages, softbound
illustrated, color
suggested price $29.95
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
The author
is one of the first US tiers
to publicize the use of CDC feathers for fly tying. His innovative patterns
and tying methods have become a standard for CDC patterns in the US and now
in many other countries as well.
The book starts, as many fly tying books do, with a small
section on fly tying tools and materials. Shane has kept this down to some
particularly favored tools and tying materials including some he has
invented. The book turns to a section describing methods of tying used for
Shane's patterns. These include materials and methods of tying trailing
shucks, materials and methods of tying extended bodies, how to pre-make
no-thread dubbed bodies, tying in micro tubing and D-rib materials, a method
Shane calls "precise dubbing", using biots, making wings using Medallion
sheeting and Zing Wing synthetics, his preferred method of splitting tails
on may fly patterns, using ostrich herl for Mayfly bodies, using soft hackle
fibers for legs, and a dubbing color chart. The rest of the book is devoted
to step-by-step instructions for tying his patterns and his variations of
standards.
The photographs and text are well done and fairly well
presented. The step-by-step sequences are very well done and make following
them easy for the reader working at his tying bench. These same tying
sequences will clearly teach the fly tier how to tie the wonderful patterns
Shane has become famous for. In addition, there are some neat tips and
tricks that will make every fly tier a better craftsman. For example the use
of plastic ribbing or tubing for dry fly bodies is most interesting.
However, these are not realistic fly patterns. They are
impressionistic from my standpoint. Maybe they could be described as
realistic impressionism in that they seem to have the triggers that make
trout accept them even though they clearly do not look realistic to the
fisherman. Certainly not realism such as displayed by the flies of Bob Mead
for example.
The only disappointment with the book was the repetition of the
same tying step in every pattern. After the first half dozen times the
reader kind of wants to rip out the sections on splitting tails and tying in
the biot that is repeated in almost every tying sequence. Especially since
these topics were covered in their own chapter at the front of the book.
Overall, if you like the fly patterns of Shane Stalcup you will
love this book. If you want to learn about the use of CDC in all types of
flies or how to effectively use biots for bodies this is a good place to
learn. Well worth the price of the book and a good value for the money.
©
2003 Bruce E. Harang
|
