Monday, April 6, 2015

"The North Country Fly"

I have a few words about a book that I purchased. This is only ones mans review and that man is giving it after reading it twice. The book is titled "The North Country Fly" and is written by Robert L. Smith. The book is both complete and through. The research that was done to fill its pages is to be commended. Mr. Smith takes you back to the origins of these flies to the present. I love the histories of flies and this is history ramped up to the max.

The book is almost 300 pages beautifully presented. There is a mix of color photos of modern and precious fly dressings in their original hand written form, on old parchment. The section of fly plates is complete with color photos and the dressing of that particular fly. What I found very interesting was that the origin of the North Country Fly came from Italy and was imported by the Romans.

This book is a must for the Spider/Soft Hackle fly fancier. I'm sure it will become a classic.






25 comments:

  1. Very interesting. Are you tying some up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RKM,
      Thanks.
      Kirk I did tie a few and they worked well today.

      Delete
  2. Alan - I've been looking for a book that had nice color photographs of North Country flies properly dressed. It looks like this book might have what I am looking for. Thanks! I'll have to check it out

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      Mark it's very precise and detailed. I'm sure you'll find it favorable.

      Delete
  3. Good find - that looks like a great read! That pic, the "Little Dark Watchet" screams fishy :)
    Will

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    Replies
    1. Hibernation,
      Thanks.
      Will I thought the same thing about that fly. I will get to it very soon.

      Delete
  4. Alan
    Amazing the history of these flies dating back to the Romans, wonder what the fly rods look like back in the day? Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      I think they might have been similar to Tankara rods.

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    2. Certainly a tenkara-style rod... link to roman fishing photo here:

      http://www.dailyspeculations.com/roman_fishermen27.jpg

      Delete
  5. I do have at least one problem with the the book and that is the described method of tying in the hackle. Unless I am reading it incorrectly (I am perfectly capable of doing that), the author states that the "standard" method of tying in the hackle is to tie the hackle in by the tip and wrap forward. Many of the old timers (see Leisenring and others that I don't have time to reference right now) preferred to tie in the hackle by the base, wrap rearward to the thread, then wrap the thread forward through the hackle to the eye. I find this method to be much preferable. As a presumably well researched book, it is curious that there is no mention of this method. Perhaps I missed it.

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    Replies
    1. ssj,
      Thanks.
      Tying the hackle in by the tip is the way I have always done it. I was showed that method at a fly fishing show years ago. Leisenring may indeed have tied it in by the base of the feather. That works, can't argue with his results.

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  6. Two other (and to my mind less significant) problems are that in the illustrations he changes the direction of the thread wrap mid fly and he fails to provide a photograph of a starling feather with the other photographs of North Country feathers.

    Don't take these criticisms of the book as condemnation of the book as a whole or in any way a lack of appreciation of the effort involved in writing the book. They were, to me, just surprising errors.

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    Replies
    1. ssj,
      Thanks.
      As with any publications no matter how meticulous the research is there will be a discrepancy or two. Overall a fine and accurate book.

      Delete
  7. That is a great book. I will be tying next Friday at the Idaho Falls Fly-tying Expo. It is a great chance to rub shoulders with some of the greatest fly-tyers of the world.

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    Replies
    1. Bill S.
      Thanks.
      Well I'm sure that will be exciting. You can attain so much at functions like those.

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  8. I'm on a mission now......that book will become part of my fly fishing library. Thanks for the post Alan!

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    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      Chris I think it will be a valuable tool, as well as a wonderful addition to you library.

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  9. You must have compiled a quite comprehensive library on tying by now Brk Trt..

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    Replies
    1. penbayman,
      Thanks.
      Mike I have a few scattered about.

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  10. This book was recommended to me shortly after it came out, and I regret to say that I'm just now getting a copy. Here's my review: wow.

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  11. Niel Norman
    Thanks
    Niel you review sums it up quite nicely.

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  12. I've just find the book in France.
    Many thanks, it's a jewel.

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    Replies
    1. paulolambert
      Thanks
      It's one of the best on the subject.
      I'm glad you have a copy.

      Delete