Have you seen this new tying book?

All about flies Fly Tying
1

I ran across a review of this new book in Fly Fisherman magazine : http://www.kaufmannsstreamborn.com/Catalog/Books-Videos/Fly-Tying-Guides/RANDLFP/

It’s pricey, but the price will come down. Has anyone seen one of these up close and personal? Do you feel it wil replace the Jim Schollmeyer and Ted Leeson book The Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference? It’s new and it’s expensive and big. Just looking for some feedback. Bluntly probably won’t buy it a $125. I do see the Schollmeyer book on Ebay these days for under $70 delivered and it lists at $100 but was done in 1998. Just wondering about the newer book.

Rick

2

absolutely not. 2 different books. one is a pattern book and the other is all about tying techniques (not patterns).

if somebody were to look hard enough, the patterns in the kaufmann book are probably on the internet somewhere!

the internet probably has more fly patterns than all of the known pattern books combined.

i would recommend "The Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference" if you can find one. great book for a new fly tyer.

3

What Norm said. 2 different books.

4

I’ve not seen it but I’ve read where it is mainly just an overpriced pattern guide. The Leeson/Schollmeyer is a treasure trove of techniques. Even though the book is over ten years old the techniques it covers are never out of style.

I see where you can now get used copies on Amazon for around $51+$4 shipping. Well worth it if you you do much flytying.

Dave

5

I have the both books. As others have said the kaufmann book is a pattern book. It only has recipes and pictures. No tying techniques. The Schollmeyer book has only techniques. No recipes.

Kaufmann’s book has lots and lots of recipes. Some I have not found listed elsewehere. Whether it’s worth the $$ is up to you. If I had to choose one, I’d say the Benchside Reference is more useful.

6

I too would have to echo the Benchside Reference over a “patterns” book. I purchased “Trout Flies” when I first got into tying but I don’t review it much anymore. As others have said, many patterns are on the internet and some simple googling will find you more than you’d ever be able to tie.

A book on techniques will probably never go out of style - a book on patterns is ONE AUTHOR’s rendition of a pattern and the patterns may be geared to a particular region or even a particular body of water.

7

You can never have too many books on flies, both technique style books and pattern books. This book will simply make a great addition to your library. The internet is a fantastic source for fly patterns and techniques, but, if no one has input the data then no one else can find it. Many of the older fly tying books and pattern books show flies and recipes from flies of long ago, great flies to fish and to tie and techniques long forgotten or fallen out of use. Buy it and add it to your library.

Larry —sagefisher—