AK Best Flies

All about flies Fly Tying
1

I’m trying to track down a place to purchase some flies tied by AK Best or at least in his style. I’ve got his book and while the text and picures are good, I would like to get some actual patterns to refer to. Thanks for any help. Mike

2

I live Boulder Colorado, about 30 minutes from A.K. Best home (in Lyons, CO) Most of the local shops carry his flies. Try this link…

http://www.frontrangeanglers.com/akbest.htm

3

It is always a good idea, to purchase a sample fly, tied by the fly dresser (when it practical) that created the pattern. This way you have a definitive model to use when you attempt to recreate the pattern, when dressing the the hook.

4

Thanks for the help. You are absolutely correct on having a sample to refer to.

I checked out the website and they have exactly what I want. Unfortunately they want $60 for shipping to Canada (I don’t want them that bad!! LOL). I’ll email them and see if we can work something out.

Thanks again for the help. Mike

5

$60.00 for shipping to Canada for some flies? That is a “RIPOFF”, tell them, shipping Airmail Small Packet is under $10.OO to Canada, using US Postal Service…

6

Just an update on Front Range Anglers so that no one is left with a bad impression of them. I contacted them and the rate quoted is for shipping via courier but they would be more than willing to ship via other means. Unfortunately they didn’t have what I wanted. The Quest continues.

Regards Mike

7

Front Range Anglers is my main fly shop, within walking distance of my home. The owner and the staff are terrific people. Wish you could all be as lucky as I am to have a shop like this so close by. Helpful, honest, nice, well stocked.

The only AK Best flies I have seen there are framed display flies. I thnk AK once worked there. I know he does demos there occasionally. But the flies they sell are not AK Best flies.

The only place I have seen advertising AK’s flies is the bamboo rod shop on the main drag in Lyons. I don’t know the name of the shop, but it is owned by the guy Gierach often mentions in his writings. Track him down and you can probably find what you are after.

Hope I don’t make him mad by doing this, but AK lives here in Boulder and doesn’t have an unlisted number. He’s in the phone book at 303-443-7679.

8

what’s mike clark’s shop named?
south fork anglers?

anyways he carries ak best tied flies.

dang. doesn’t nobody know nothing?

9

Guys, RW here

Funny you should mention John Gierach. I have practically all of his 15 or so books (“Trout Bum” and “Sex, Death and Fly Fishing” to name a couple) and he is apparently A.K.s closest fishing buddy, or vice-versa.
I didn’t know Gierach owned a fly shop in Lyons, although he lives there. Reading John’s books, you’d never think either one of them ever did anything but fish.

Later, RW

10

I dont think anybody said Geirach “owned” a fly shop. It is mentioned above as “I don’t know the name of the shop, but it is owned by the guy Gierach often mentions in his writings.”

11

Thanks to everybody. I think I finally located a source, it’s South Creek Ltd in Lyons. They don’t have online sales but I can order online and they will email me a cost.

Front Range Anglers offered to pick some up for me the next time one of their people went thru Lyons, but it shouldn’t be necessary. Boy, talk about Service!!

Old Frat, your right I wish I had a shop like that here!!

Thanks again for all your help,

Mike