The definitive reference book on trout fly patterns for all fly fishermen, whether on river or still water. This comprehensive guide describes over 1000 dressings -- 480 of which are illustrated in full color and the text is full of authoritative advice on fly tying and fishing methods.
Contained within this book is a comprehensive index of the various different types of fly that can be used by the fly-fisherman to catch his prey. With helpful illustrations and a wealth of useful information provided by an expert fisherman, this timeless volume is sure to be of considerable utility to modern readers with an interest in fly-fishing. This is a classic guide that is not to be missed by collectors of vintage fishing literature. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on the history of fishing.
"...essentially a dictionary of over 800 traditional and modern dressings from an Irish fly-tyer's notebook, filling a major gap in angling literature: there is information on hooks, fly-dressing materials and their preparation, with a guide to vegetable dyeing and the materials used to obtain the subtle colours beloved by the traditional fly tyers. Trout and salmon fly dressings each have their own section, and there are appendixes that provide information on where to fish throughout Ireland, and often on which flies are particularly effective in each area." This paperback edition, published in 1998 by Coch-y-Bonddu Books, Machynlleth, was intended as a less expensive re-issue of the "limited" second edition which was published in 1993 by The Flyfisher's Classic Library. Good colour photographs of flies tied by Frankie McPhilips. The first edition is out-of-print and already scarce and hard to find.
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.