Reviewed by Ron Eagle Elk
All right, I admit it! I'm a Classic Atlantic
Salmon Fly tier wanna-be. I have admired those
beautiful flies since I started fly fishing
about forty years ago. I have read every book
about their construction, patterns and tying
techniques I can lay my hands on. I even have
books with nothing but pictures of the Classics
and more modern feather wing flies in them.
Every photo, crisp and sharp, well lighted
and a thing of beauty.
I have never successfully tied one of the
classics. Not that I haven't tried, because
I have. There was just always something missing,
or not quite right about the fly. I followed
the instructions. I read the recipe correctly.
That fly should have looked right, but it didn't.
When I was offered a copy of Ron Alcott's new
book Building Classic Salmon Flies,
I thought it would make a nice addition to the
collection and maybe look good on the coffee
table. It does make a great addition to the
collection, but it doesn't look good on the
coffee table. This is a working book. Everything
about this book, from the binding that lets the
book lay flat, to the heavy pages with large
margins for notes, screams that it belongs on
the tying bench, not on a shelf or coffee table.
This book demands to be used by a fly tier.
If you, like myself, have perused other books
on tying Classic Atlantics, be prepared. In
Alcott's book you will find techniques that
are not explained elsewhere. As I read through
the book and followed the brilliant color plates,
the same thought kept popping into my head over
and over, "So that's how they do that!" His
discussions of materials and appropriate
substitutes is clear and concise. The section
on color of materials is great, especially if
you have looked at the color plates of the flies
tied by the old masters and tried to duplicate
those colors today. The continual explanations
of terminology and how it has changed over the
years and from author to author, often causing
confusion among new tiers, cleared away several
obstacles to my tying. One of the reasons my
attempts at tying these feather wing flies failed
was my lack of understanding about the proper
proportions of the fly. With Alcott's clear
explanations and thoughtful diagrams that is
no longer a problem.
The book is written for every level of tier,
beginner, intermediate and expert. That's right,
I said beginner. Alcott never claims that all
you need is some tools and his book to tie the
Classics, but "with some basic practice and a
modicum of self-confidence, any tyer should be
able to follow the steps in the text and photos.
Each of us has to start somewhere, and the world
still awaits that perfectly built fly."
If the thought of building a Classic Atlantic
Salmon Fly has ever crossed your mind, but you
have been intimidated by the many steps and
procedures each fly takes, I heartily suggest
Ron Alcott's book. Even if you never actually
attempt one of the classics, the techniques he
discusses and illustrates so well transfer
easily to our tying of trout, bass and
steelhead flies.
I hope you all will excuse me now. See, I have
these 4/0 hooks that I haven't used..now where
did I put those dyed goose shoulders and
primrose tying thread? ~ REE
Building Classic Salmon Flies
Ron Alcott
190 pages
Softbound Spiral (ISBN: 1-57188-339-8) $29.95
Full color, 10 x 7.5
Published by Frank Amato Books
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