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Individual taste in books varies as much as the favorite rod or fly. With that in mind, we hope to review books and videos from the ever-growing fly fishing world, and share them with you. Books will be the best of all worlds, new and old. Many of the old books are now available in reprint, and the wisdom contained is timely today. Others can be found in second-hand book stores, or by mail order dealers. As we find videos we feel are outstanding they will be included. Be assured, reviews are based on what we have actually read or viewed, and due to that fact, may not appear weekly.
TIED IN THE HAND
Tied in The Hand: Odyssey of A Salmon Fly-Tyer by Sven-Olov Hård (2012)
Reintroduction – December 2015:
My passion for Atlantic Salmon Flies has not waned, rather it is getting stronger. Just like anything else, the more I dress, the better my flies look. Am I getting better? – Perhaps. One thing I'm sure of: I can handle materials much better with more patience and extra time. Along the way I acquired more books. Some of which helped me build skills and mindsets. Also there have been books that offer me imaginary trips to unknown places and rivers, where I'm casting my own salmon flies for Atlantic salmon.
Scandinavian Master:
I've been reading (& reviewing) and learning from books written by American authors/dressers (plus The Essential Kelson – Review 10 of mine – in which editor Terry Griffith is from Britain and Marvin Nolte is a Wyoming dresser). I've been aware of Atlantic Salmon Flies are popular in the other side of Atlantic = European countries. Exotic feathers are traded internationally. Along the way, I heard of a Swedish dresser, Sven Olov-Hård (www.hardsclassic.com). Then, making another long story short, I happened to find his book at a book store booth. Furthermore, the copy I happened to pick up was signed by him!! That was the only one among the stack!! (I have no idea how the store had acquired the signed copy. A female staff just said to me "you have good eyes" – perhaps trained by selecting materials!?)
So suddenly I'm reading and learning from another World-Class master, this time, from the heart of Atlantic salmon "fishing" region. As the title suggests, author dresses with his hand, NOT using a vise, what he calls Hardy Style. He uses authentic materials. Then he actually goes fishing Atlantic salmon with those flies!
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This book (Coch-y-Bonddu Books, ISBN: 978-1-904784-51-8) is very organized with full of contents: historical review, materials review, dressing instruction, and author's personal journey. His flies are as classic as they can be; a great reference right on my bookshelf.
As of now, I haven't tried to tie in my hand yet. Someday soon, I will. I don't mean to permanently do so but who knows.
Another personal note is: when we think of and talk about trout flies, if they catch some trout in America or even in one particular stream somewhere in US, they are considered effective and tyers can be famous. With Atlantic Salmon Flies, certainly one can claim to be good. But look around not just in US but also worldwide. I'm working alone in my little house in the windy town of Livingston. I might be good in my own right and could be better. However I never forget my initial learning attitude and keep my eyes and ears open to worldwide.
Satoshi Yamamoto, www.leftyanglerandflies.com, is an outfitter and a fly-dresser in Livingston, MT.