Favorite Flies and Their Histories: The Classic Encyclopedia of American Fly Patterns from One of the Most Enduring Names in Fly Fishing

by Mary Orvis Marbury

Book Overview

The classic encyclopedia of American fly patterns from one of the classic names in fly fishing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585743151
• ISBN13: 9781585743155
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

letters from the nineteenth century

My interest in this book began while researching in Ray Bergman's (_Trout_) the deer fly that was popular a generation ago. However, my gains from this book exceed that limited purpose.This book offers beautiful drawings of 290 flies that were popular years before Norman Maclean (author of _A River Runs Through It_) was born. That is, it helps ground the reader in some of the traditions of fly fishing that were well established before the production of some of the literature that catalyzed the recent explosion of interest in angling with the long rod.The bulk of this book consists of letters written by hundreds of anglers from across North America. These letters list favorite flies, some tying instructions, and many gems of wisdom. The author organized these letters, added information about the history of many flies, and put together excerpts from angling literature of previous centuries. The letters were written in response to a set of questions, some of which are of less concern today. But, other concerns remain pertinent. Many letters address the relationship between fly selection a presentation, for example. Letters from the past are the raw materials of history: in this case of specific waters. Judging from the three letters from my home town, for instance, even in the 1890s the Spokane River was a challenge with a fly.The republication of this book makes a classic affordable and accessible. But, the modern reader might have found some benefit from an editor's introduction that illuminates some of the history of this work's popularity and use, as well as offering some clarification of tying methods and materials of the nineteenth century.