A. K. Best's Advanced Fly Tying: The Proven Methods and Techniques of a Master Professional Fly Tyer [Hardcover]

A. K. Best (Author), John Gierach (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

In his fourth book on the subject, author A. K. Best offers a thoughtful interpretation of advanced techniques for tying trout flies. In A. K. Best’s Advanced Fly Tying, A. K. discusses tools, materials, and methods in elaborate detail, and the resulting fly patterns “may, in the right hands, fool a few more trout,” according to John Gierach’s introduction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A. K.'s tying instructions come from long experience as a professional fly tyer (a job where time really is money) but that's not all of it. Plenty of people are very good at something, but few are so acutely aware of what they're doing, how they do it and why, and almost none are able to explain it clearly. A. K. is among the best fly tyers I've ever seen, and his is the best instructor."--John Gierach, from the Introduction

 

"A. K. is one of the truly great fly tyers of our age. Because of his vast experience with trout, he has altered the way some favorite patterns are tied. Tie the flies the way he teaches in the book and use his advice for fishing them and you'll take more fish. That's a promise!"--Lefty Kreh

 

"Few tyers are as outspoken and iconoclastic as A. K. Best. And few are right as often."--Ted Leeson

About the Author

A. K. Best has tied flies and fly fished for more than thirty-five years. His patterns have been featured in many national fly-fishing magazines including Fly Tyer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592289568
• ISBN-13: 978-1592289561
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterclass, March 1, 2007

By 

Doh (Pickering, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A. K. Best's Advanced Fly Tying: The Proven Methods and Techniques of a Master Professional Fly Tyer (Hardcover)

AK's gig is to design and tie flies that are conservative by holding to styles of the past, yet make use of new materials, techniques, and tactical information. His writing and photography effectively carry his message.

An example would be AK's description of using soft hackle to tie standard dry flies. This is not new, even in bringing it to modern attention. But AK does it just so; He develops flies that still stand on the hackle, are traditional in style yet not on poker points of genetic hackle. These flies are stylish, tactically effective since they fish a little more in the film, and do use modern materials: underused genetic hackles that can be found in modern shops today. So that's the package looks traditional, employs modern fish catching savvy, and AK as a true professional production tier knows more that most anyone else what is out there in new products. On the other hand these aren't foam body rubber hackle dry flies with zing wings either.

AK's most popular book is probably his "Flybox" book. He has two other books that are really moreso about the craft of professional tying, but they are written for any serious tier. "Advanced" is taking "Flybox" to the next level, don't read it if you don't think you can make with the program, the flies are simple enough but there is a lot of stuff about small flies and flies that fill in gaps. If your idea of a full fly box is a Wolly B., some hare's ears, and a Humpy, this one may be over-thinking things a little for you. You may still enjoy reading the playbook.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Oldtimer Review, January 5, 2007

By 

Michael Ramicone - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A. K. Best's Advanced Fly Tying: The Proven Methods and Techniques of a Master Professional Fly Tyer (Hardcover)

I was very disappointed in this book.I had hoped for some new revelations toward fly tying.I started tying in the summer of 1942 and have tried to stay somewhat currant over all these years.I had hoped to get some new insight on how to best use some of the various new materials being introduced into the art of flytying.A.K.'s book didn't do this for me.