The following is an excerpt from the book, Opening Days, by Richard Chiaponne (Barclay Creek Press; Hardcover; 232 pages; 6×9; June 2010). It is from the chapter titled, “Perfect: A Fly Tier’s Beginnings.”

GLOBE PEQUOT ( THE LYONS PRESS, FALCON), November 1997
Binding Type: Hardcover
Retail Price: $16.95 at the Hatches Store
ISBN: 1-55821-067-9
“The trout’s biggest advantage is selectivity, and we can counteract it only by knowing the insects that make up his diet.  This is the reason for the study of stream entomology by the angler, and it is often the weak link in his skill.”
-Ernest Schwiebert
Trout Stream Insects: An Orvis Streamside Guide is by no means a new book.  However, since it was first published in 1990, it has successfully been introducing novice …

The Fly Tyers of the World series (see excerpts from vol. 3 below) is a stunning new series of casebound, limited edition, numbered books designed and photographed by Steve Thornton.  Broken up into 5 volumes, Fly Tyers of the World offers a unique and personal insight into 100 of the world’s best known fly tyers and their fly tying techniques.  Each book features 20 of the worlds best known fly tyers with hundreds of high quality images of fly patterns and dressings.
Considering each fly tyer has over 20 years of …

One of the most essential yet seemingly simple aspects of creating a deadly pattern is size. This is especially true for the smaller flies, those less than 7 or 8 mm in length. If, for example, we are trying to imitate a natural that is 5 mm long and our artificial ends up being 6 mm long, we are a whopping 20 percent too large. One millimeter does not sound like much, but it can mean the difference between success and failure, particularly when diminutive patterns are used.

The following is a review and excerpt of The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon & Steelhead Flies, written by Chris Mann (Frank Amato Publications, October 2008,  8.5 x 11 Inches, 448 Pages, Index, All Color- originally published by Melin Unwin Books, 2008) which is available at fine fly shops and booksellers everywhere.

Editor’s Note: Two pages have been excerpted from the actual book and can be viewed on pages two and three following the review.
Chris Mann has been studying Salmon Flies and their history for more than 30 years.  The …