Been thinking of purchasing this book, lots of info, yet a bit on the pricey side ($100). I have come across some older editions at discounted prices (e-bay). I’m just curious, does the new/latest edition contain some information that an older version does not have? I am always looking for some new material to tie with and I fear that an older edition might not have tips the new edition would.
Saltamontes
Sal,
I don’t have the book and have never seen it. However, I have seen it listed as low as $60. I believe there has only been one edition published.
Allan
Sal,
I have the book, and found it to be an excellent resource regarding techniques. The current best price seems to be from Overstock.com which is selling it for $61.25.
Saltamontes,
Even at $100, it is worth every penny. It is an excellent reference you’ll go back to time and time again. I think there is only one edition.
Even when not tying, I find myself going through the pages almost weekly. It even comes in a DVD version.
FlyFishing and Tying Journal was offering the Benchside Reference along with a 10 yr. subscripiton for $180, a heck of a deal.
I found an inexpensive copy and bought it. I was overwhelmed by the amount of information, much of which I knew I would never use. Someone else owns the book now. Perhaps you could view a copy somewhere before you buy it. It is a wonderful book with every technique imaginable nicely photographed. It was just to much for my.
I think the Benchside Reference is the best fly tying book I own.
Well worth $100, and I bet you can do a lot better than that if you search around. It has more useable knowledge than all of my other books combined. You won’t regret owning it.
I second the Fly Fishing and Tying Journal deal. That’s how I got my copy. I liked it so much that I also got the CD version off of EBAY.
Hi Salt. The book is a great reference, I have seen it, want it, and finally finagled the funds to buy one. If you need a technique it will be there! Check Amazon, the last time I looked the book was in the low 60’s but you got free shipping because it was over 50, so not a bad deal. You might not think you need it, but as your skills and tying abilities grow it will come in handy.
Does this book come with the “spiral bound” thing? (you know, the coil thing that holds it together)?
No on the spiral. At least when I asked amato about it they said no. It was too big to do it the spiral way.
Gemrod
The one I bought last year was the hardbound edition. Got it on Half.com for $55 plus shipping. Worth it, definitely.
I have it and recommend it.
IMO - you will never exhaust all the methods in the earlier editions.
Even if you tie day & night…
If you need to get it cheaper buy the older one.
I GUARANTEE it will have more techniques than you’ll ever use.
I recommend buying the CD-rom version, much cheaper than the paper copy.
It is in at least the 2nd or more printings of the first edition. (I had balked at the original $100 price tag and by the time I got one it was already in the second printing). In other words, no changes, just sold out of first 2,500 or how ever many copies were printed in the first printing. To go to a second edition usually means it would be updated or added to, or that it had been out of print for a while and brought back. The first printing of the first edition is usually what the ‘collector’ covets and therefore increases in value more than the later printings.