Easy To Use, Great Design

Fly Fishing

Avid Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

This is the book that I learned to tie with 30 years ago. My buddy had a copy and I was able to learn everything I know from it. Great time-tested patterns. Recommended for any fly-tier

Casual Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

As I previously noted, these are excellent DVDs and include a pair of bonus flies w/complete video instructions on how to tie them. HOWEVER - this pair of DVDs are also included on a single DVD in the Western Trout Fly Tying Manual/DVD set also for sale on STP, so if you plan to buy that set, you don't need to buy this one. I did, not knowing, but I'll keep it as a backup.

Fly Fishing

Casual Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

This is an excellent manual of basic Western fly patterns. The instructions and materials for all 52 flies shown in the book are there - wet, dry, nymphs, and streamers - some, with variations also listed. The instructions and their photographs are in black and white, but there are 4 color plates in the center of the book with color photographs of all of the flies discussed. The book is spiral bound and so can be folded back on itself or laid flat to work with. There are 2 DVDs included in this set - Tying Western Trout Flies, and Understanding Fly Tying Basics. PLEASE NOTE - the 2nd DVD listed above contains the same exact footage as the 2 DVDs in the Jack Dennis "Fly Tying Basics and Materials" DVD set also offered on STP, an excellent instructional set. So, if you buy this item, you don't need to get "Fly Tying Basics and Materials", you'll already have it. With this set, you get the book, both of those DVDs and the Western Trout Fly Tying DVD - a great value.

Excellent instruction

Fly Fishing

Casual Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

This double dvd package is an excellent investement for a new fly tyer. In the 1st dvd, tools and materials are discussed, and many patterns and their variations are offered, clearly showing how to create the flies. The 2nd dvd explains, in greater depth, all about the various tools and materials used in tying flies and answers basic questions about the use of said materials. This is a great item if you're new or relatively new to fly tying. Great all around instruction.

Useful Info

Not Professionally Done

Fly Fishing

Avid Fisher

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

This DVD is among one of the early efforts of teaching by tape. The products introduced are pretty old styles and not current. But the fishing tips are still valid. It was hard to see the fly line during the fly casting demonstrations. There was one spot where they talked about the line loop but the camera concentrated on the hands thus the visual didn't follow the narration. The "lessons" are clipped and sometimes not even completed before the next sequence starts. The sound goes up and down so be ready for some soft and then loud sequences. Certainly not a first rate effort.

Easy To Use

Fly Fishing

Avid Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

The information in the DVDs really help the descriptions that are in the book. This is a great addition for anyone just starting out in fly tying.

Bad quality, Bad video, Choppy infomation, Poor Design

Fly Fishing

Avid Fisher

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

These dvd are truely 2nd,quality is bad,video skips around.They look like test videos before the real one is made.There is some info on them but not worth much, buy Jack dennis videos that have 1st quality and you will do alot better.

Easy To Use

Professional

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

The book is an "old standard" with many good patterns. The added DVD's will be a great help to beginner and intermediate fly tyers. It's a great value.

Easy To Use, Versatile

Fly Fishing

Avid Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I purchased the original in the early 80s. It's the jewel of my collection of about 8 books I have on fly tying. It doesn't have the newer materials and patterns, but I already have many recipes; much of it hand written, that I've gleaned over the years stuffed in the book. I have to say that patterns from this book still get me a lot of fish even in heavily fished fly-only water. My humble opinion is that careful observation, presentation and confidence put more fish in the net than the latest patterns. I bought this as a replacement for several reasons. My original is heavily used, with pages falling out. The original's "perfect" glued binding wouldn't let it stay open to a page without putting something across the pages. This one is spiral bound! I haven't watched the the DVDs yet but the majority of the techniques used in this book are needed for tying new patterns. Now to transfer all my notes.

A classic with benefits

Old but

Fly Fishing, Freshwater Fishing

Avid Fisher

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

i can't comment on the dvds which is actually why i got this product, since i haven't had a chance to view them, but i did look through the book. i think what was striking and sort of disconcerting to me is that most of these patterns seem very dated in light of more recent work by people like la fontaine, swisher/richards, cutter, goddard, whose work is on what the insect/organism really looks like to the trout. i'd defer to those who use them as to their effectiveness, but i have to wonder whether these heavily hackled patterns (which i used to use all the time) are effective on heavily-fished trout during selective feeding. also the nymph section is VERY sparse. Still, it is a good book to have in your collection maybe for historic purposes and i know this stuff works on relatively barren freestone streams where the trout will eat mostly anything. i'm hoping the dvds will show good tying techniques. jhw