Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art [Hardcover]

Terry Hellekson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2005

In one of the enduring classics of fly-fishing literature, Terry Hellekson addresses everything from the history of fly fishing and fly-tying around the world, to fly-tying material and hooks. This newly revised and updated version offers the original two volumes combined in one hardcover edition to create the definitive book on fly-tying. This is not just another book on popular fly patterns, although it is the authority on those as well. Terry shares the insights and interviews with fly-tying greats of years past, along with the history of some of the popular individual flies and fly-tying vises, making this a great read. He also shares years of wisdom and knowledge on colors, fly-fishing techniques, and tricks of the trade on the best kinds of tools and materials to buy and where to find them.
This new edition is organized into two clear parts: the first section deals with the origins of fly-fishing, the concepts of vision and perception of color, the tools and materials from which flies are created, and looks at species of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies. The second section of the book progresses on to the other insect orders, terrestrials, and crustaceans, then delves into the specifics of streamers, shad flies, steelhead flies, and more. Even a fly-tying novice will be enthralled, with illustrations that clarify the patterns and a reader-friendly style.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

This is the definitive book on fly-tying, with thousands of fly patterns included for the enthusiast. Expert angler, fly tier, and author Terry Hellekson addresses everything from the history of fly-fishing around the world to the history of fly tying and fly-tying materials. Hellekson shares interviews with fly-tying greats of years past, along with the fascinating history and background of some of the popular individual flies, making this a great read. His colorful recollections of people and events will intrigue and delight even the most serious fly tier. He also shares years of wisdom and knowledge on fly-tying colors; fly patterns; fly-tying tools, hooks, and materials; and fly-fishing and fly-tying methods. Hellekson' depicts hundreds of intricate patterns for dry flies, wet flies, and nymphs. Mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly species are widely represented with simulations of the phases of their respective life cycles. Detailed patterns for terrestrials, damselflies and dragonflies, leeches and worms, midges, crustaceans, streamers, shad flies, steelhead flies, Atlantic salmon flies, Spey flies, Pacific salmon flies, and salmon and steelhead dry flies round out the book. This encyclopedia is organized into two distinct parts: the first section describes the origins of fly-fishing; the concepts of vision and perception of color; and the tools and materials from which artificial flies are created. It addresses dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies. The second section of the book thoroughly attends to the simulation of other insect orders, such as terrestrials and crustaceans, and then delves into the specifics of streamers, shad flies, steelhead flies, and more. Even a fly-fishing novice will be enthralled with illustrations that clarify the patterns in a reader-friendly style. Line illustrations throughout, plus more than 2,950 detailed fly patterns-including 695 flies shown in full color-make this a comprehensive fly-tying encyclopedia beyond compare. Terry Hellekson was born into the world of fly-fishing and spent his early life in Happy Camp, California, where his father had a fly-fishing guide service on the Klamath and Trinity rivers during the 1940s and 1950s. Hellekson not only fly-fished and tied flies as a youth, but he developed many new fly patterns and eventually became immersed in all phases of the fly-fishing and fly-tying businesses. He founded Fly Fishing Specialties, a wholesale and retail business. He continually exchanges information with leading experts in fly-fishing and fly tying. Hellekson has traveled the world discovering sources for fly-tying materials and other products that he sold on the international market. He has also fished many of the great lakes and rivers of the world, traveling to such far off places as Kashmir to test the waters of the Himalayas. Hellekson is one of the founders of the Northern Utah Fly Fishers and the Granite Bay Fly Casters in northern California. Through fly-tying classes and fly-fishing clinics, he has taught countless numbers of fly fishers the fine points of the sporting art. Besides the many articles he has written on fly-fishing and fly tying, he has authored two books, Popular Fly Patterns (1976) and Fish Flies (1995), with this revised edition the culmination of a lifetime of work. He has also made generous contributions to the works of other authors. He now lives and fishes with his wife, Patricia, in Montana, where they have the famous Kootenai River at their doorstep.

About the Author

Terry Hellekson was born into the world of fly-fishing and spent his early life in Happy Camp, California, where his father had a fly-fishing guide service on the Klamath and Trinity Rivers. He founded Fly Fishing Specialties, a wholesale and retail business. He has traveled and fished the world, seeking out sources for fly-tying and fishing in such far-off places as Kashmir in the Himalayas. He now lives and fishes with his wife in Montana.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith; First Edition edition (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586856928
• ISBN-13: 978-1586856922
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Sports
  • #99 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Art

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference Guide, December 21, 2009

By 

Old Tool Guy (Lake Tahoe, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art (Hardcover)

I have used this as a reference guide to get my questions answered. I have used it several times in the last few weeks. It has not let me down yet. The index is about 50 pages, so, it is very easy to find just about any thing you could possible want to know about flies.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best, March 25, 2005

By 

Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fish Flies (Vol 2) (Hardcover)

Everything you'd want to know about fly fishing from A-Z, with lovely little illustrations by one of the USA's most talented specialists in flies and lures, the one and only Wanda Prunty. This is said to be "Volume I," but I don't know if Volume 2 or 3 has ever been issued. No need, I can't imagine anything that Terry, Jim and Wanda left out of Volume 1. Wouldn't you love to have an original of Wanda's cunning drawings? They would make great tattooes if nothing else.

The flies are sumptuous and a sight to behold. From fluorescent floss to fire hackle, from lambs wool to pheasant feathers, from squirrel tail to sea weed, these authors have pinned down what you want and what your fish want too.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fish Flies Encyclopedia, July 5, 2010

By 

Mrs. Talitha Fowlkes (South Bend, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art (Hardcover)

This book was advertised as "used." It arrived promptly, and looked brand new from front to back. Thank you, Backpack books and Amazon.

Paul H. Anderson
Assistant Professor Emeritus
University of Tennessee at Martin