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April 22nd, 2002
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Three Fly Pattern Books
In order to get to the desired "body count" of 1,500 patterns,
a number of patterns are repeated multiple times with no
variation other than color. There are editing and production
problems as well. Several photographs don't match the pattern
over which they are listed, and the color consistency in the
photographs is poor. On the positive side, each section is
prefaced with good, short essays by noted fly tiers (who have
licensed use of their names and patterns to Umpqua).
'Dry flies for Trout,' for example, has sections on baetis, callibaetis, BWO,
green drake, Hendrickson, pale evening and morning duns, and others.Some color variations are presented, but not to excess. Jim Schollmeyer's photographs are, as usual, excellent. Like Fly Patterns, each chapter has a preface written by a noted fly tier or fisher. The patterns are a nice mix of standard fare and newer designs. 
Trout Flies of the West: Best Contemporary Patterns from the Rockies, WestBy Jim Schollmeyer and Ted Leeson Paperback - 128 pages (January 1999) Dimensions (in inches): 0.43 x 10.98 x 8.54 Frank Amato Publications ISBN: 157188145X
I have at least 20 pattern books. Each has its own merits (and
flaws), and each presents a few patterns not seen anywhere else.
There's a lot of repetition, too, as most books try to be somewhat
comprehensive in their coverage.
I can't help but share a favorite pattern from each book. From Trout Flies of the West, I really like the Baetis Soft developed by John Smeraglio of the Deschutes Canyon Fly Shop in Maupin, OR. No wonder, as this fly was developed for my home waters. In Frontier Flies, Troy does the middle-aged fly fisher a great service with his 'twilight' flies, patterns which feature high-visibility parachute posts or highlights. Randall Kaufmann's Signal Light Spey, a spey adaptation of his own hair wing pattern, became the basis for a low water variation of my own. ~ Stu Farnham
About Stu
Stu Farnham is a New Englander by birth, who was transplanted to
and put down roots in Oregon in the early 1990s. A software
engineering manager by vocation, he can be found in his spare
time chasing trout and steelhead in the rivers of the Pacific
Northwest, chasing his four Gordon Setters (who in turn are
chasing chukar), tying flies, reading, or working on his website.
Colleen, his long suffering wife of 28 years, is a professionally
trained personal chef.
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Fly Patterns of the Umpqua Feather Merchants: The World's 1,500 Best Flies
Frontier Flies
So, 20 pattern books yield 20 elk hair caddis, 20 royal Wulff,
and so forth. Jim Schollmeyer and Ted Leeson took a different
approach when they put together a series of pattern books.
Trout Flies of the West, subtitled
'Best Contemporary Patterns from the Rockies, West' was the first
in a series which also includes Trout Flies of the East
and Inshore Flies. For this series, they asked
fly shops in each region to provide innovative or specialized
local patterns.
The resulting books are full of creative patterns and new ideas. Each fly pattern
is listed along with the submitter, originator, and tier. Many of
the patterns include tying and fishing notes, and a number a
photographed from multiple angles or in multiple variations.
Unsurprisingly, book features Shollmeyer's outstanding photography.|
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