Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple Spiral-bound – May 1, 1992

Just started to ty

I use to tie flies a lot but over the years slowly let dust collect on my equipment. Life some times gets in the way of hobbies. I decide that I would like, now that I am retired, to renew that hobby but felt like a real newbie while going through my equipment box and setting up my table once more. I decided I need a refresher course in the basics and after much research decided upon this book. It really helps and I know it will help me once more to spend spending countless hours at my bench enjoying creating those flies that just might bring a real strike on my fly line leader. We can only hope! I do recommend this book as a helpful guide to the fine art of fly tying.

I gave four stars instead of five because I thought that I was getting the spiral bound version which would have been a lot easier to leave open on a table while tying as it would lay flat.The book itself is great. Clear instructions and wonderful images. They author gives a good introduction to fly tying listing all of the required and optional tools, explains basic materials and techniques. Once into the tying part he explains for each fly some of the common problems that new tiers have and how to overcome them. My only complaint about the instructions is that they are in paragraph format and not a numbered or bulleted list. When looking at the book while tying, eyes darting from fly to book, it would be easier to keep your place if in list, and not paragraph, format.I do feel that this is a book that the beginning fly tier must have.

I'm new to tying flies, so read my review with that in mind.I did not find this book to be suited the beginner - me. The techniques did not seem to be sufficiently described. The pictures were sparse (not enough of them) and the picture quality was fair to poor. Specifically, many pictures were not sharp, and the depth of field in many shots did not allow the whole fly to be in sharp focus. I suppose this could be intended, but if so, why? The descriptions of the materials and their selection could be much better.Overall, I think this book needs a good amount of updating (I don't think it has been revised since 1992). As mentioned before, the pictures were of mediocre quality - by today's standards. I've since seen lots of amateur pictures with point-and-shoots that look as good or better than the pictures included here. Perhaps, a revision of the book with updated pictures, some rewriting, and a few new sections could make this a great "simple" guide - but not a complete guide.I should add that I currently own one other fly tying book (but I've looked at several). I have found the other book to be much more complete and addresses each of my criticisms of the Morris text.

I'm new to fly tying and wanted to get a step by step introduction before I sat in with other Anglers during our weekly fly tying sessions.The book has large pages with color photographs and offers step by step instructions for each fly. I think the first beginner fly in the book - the Rick's Caddis - is an excellent choice as it uses a limited amount of materials and focuses more on technique.One thing I wish Skip Morris would have done is show how to tie off a fly using the whip finisher as opposed to using your fingers to complete the task. That's a personal preference of mine as I had a difficult time doing it with just my fingers.In summary: the color photos and step by step instructions make this book a great learning tool.

Very good book for the beginner. Recommend.

Bought several beginner books to teach myself tying, and this was one of the best ones. I still use this book for reference on technique, even after taking tying lessons from a commercial tier with 40+ yrs of experience. Incidentally, the person I took lessons from, used this book for class material - using the illustrations to point out the subtle details on various flies, and referencing some of the techniques in the book (and of course embellishing the finer points of tying with his many tips & tricks from 40+ years of commercial tying experience).

Excellent instruction for the rank beginner! It assumes the reader knows nothing of fly tying and takes them to become competent at tying a wide variety of flys. Excellent color photography and sketched illustrations help the novice understand the techniques involved. Not only are tying instructions included, but whole chapters are devoted to tools and materials. The writing is very conversational and personal, something not easily accomplished in an "instruction manual." As a bonus, the book is spiral bound so that it lays flat on your tying bench while your hands are busy. I would summarize this review as the one "must have" tying book for beginners.

Yes this is ok but I have not used it all that much. I guess I have been tying flies for so long I know most methods. If you are new to tying then you may find this helpful.

Excellent

I was recommended this book by a number of different fly tying forums. It is very nicely laid out and touch's on pretty much all of the different types of fly's that are out there. As you progress through the fly's patterns you are taught the techniques used on pretty much all flys. The book is fairly old so the one area it does not touch on is the use of foam's, plastic's and some of the new materials out there.For someone trying to learn fly tying this book is an excellent source to have.

I am involved in a program called "Healing waters". This program provides our wounded soldiers suffering from PDSD with a way of gathering in a relaxed atmosphere and to learn the art of tying flies.Our future plan is to provide participants with a book on the basics of fly tying. I bought both volume 1 and 2 to find out if they would serve our purpose and I believe that they will.I have been tying flies for about 50 years and I picked up a few pointers which has made tying easier for me.

very easy to read and follow