Production Fly Tying: A Collection of Ideas, Notions, Hints, & Variations on the Techniques of Fly Tying [Paperback]

A. K. Best (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

This eagerly awaited for second edition of Production Fly Tying reveals concise and comprehensive instructions from fly-tying authority A. K. Best. This expanded new edition to tying techniques, tools, and materials includes 299 suberb, four-color photographs and tried-and-true, time saving tips. This is a must have addition to any fly tyers library.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Available July of 2003

About the Author

A.K. Best is a true master fly tyer. He has tied flies commercially for over 30 years and fished even longer. Being self-taught is the basis for his strong and sometimes unique opinions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Pruett Publishing; 2 edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871089297
• ISBN-13: 978-0871089298
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 10.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #863,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soft cover, solid information., July 7, 2003

By 

S. P. Gullette (Monument, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Production Fly Tying: A Collection of Ideas, Notions, Hints, & Variations on the Techniques of Fly Tying (Paperback)

This paperback book is everything it's cracked up to be: umpteen tips on tying smarter and faster. The photographs are superb. A. K. still doesn't think much of many modern synthetics, exhibiting a strong preference for natural materials. Although not a professional, I just tie for my own use, this book will save me the purchase price in materials alone, with the time savings a bonus. This is not a recipe book - this is a how to tie in (fill in the blank) material better, more consistently, and quicker.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Tyers with *SOME* knowledge, this is one of the best TECHNIQUE books, September 17, 2005

By 

Pete Gramp "[e-mail]" (Schwenksville, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Production Fly Tying: A Collection of Ideas, Notions, Hints, & Variations on the Techniques of Fly Tying (Paperback)

Simply put, this is a great book that will aid any fly- tyer, from a beginner who can barely stick a hook in a vise to the expert tying for a living!

As most fly tyers who are looking to purchase books on the subject know, most (if not all) tying- related books begin with a background on the tools of the trade and how to use them. Well, AK Best takes this and runs with it - in a VERY productive way! Sticking a needle into a cork to work with palm-held embroidery snips like a 3rd hand, etc... I could write a book just about this book! This book is not one of specific patterns, but rather one of techniques to be applied for multiple patterns.

Yes, the 'Flytyer's Benchside Reference' (ISBN 1571881263) is great for techniques, don't get me wrong! I don't care for that book's price, either, but it is a great book. Best's book, however, delves into more of the holistic view than the Benchside Reference. That is to say, Best looks at things in an efficiency-of-tying AND functionality-of-catching-fish perspective, where the Benchside Reference seems to simply list EVERY possible way of doing the task required without care for the time or energy used to tie. They both have their respective benefits: If you are looking for multiple ways of doing something, the Benchside Reference is the way to go; if looking for a very efficient way, then I find AK Best's book to be far superior.

For the crux of this book: graphics are large enough and numerous enough to fully see what is going on; language is narrative and brief, not using circumlocution to attempt a persona of godliness; the price is high for a book (in my opinion, as a cheap-skate), but worth it in the savings on materials alone. Again, this is a wonderful book for all tyers, regardless of experience.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for the evolving fly tyer, March 21, 2006

By 

William M. Zsembik, Jr. (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Production Fly Tying: A Collection of Ideas, Notions, Hints, & Variations on the Techniques of Fly Tying (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for both beginner and advanced tyers...tyers who are looking to get better at their approach and technique. The insights that Mr. Best relays in his work are gained from thousand and thousands of ties. Having trouble with spinning a deer hair muddler head - I'll bet you can get some help from his section on just this topic - including how to better clip them. Same goes for his tips on building wings and proportionate bodies, tails, etc. My personal experience here saw me go from a tyer with 6-7 years experience back in the ealry 90's, struggling with some techniques, to a tyer with a better understanding of what I was doing wrong, (or how I could overcome my difficulties), and produce a better fly, more quickly. Not necessarily an "enjoyable" read, but a read that you will get something out of...a "workbook" for lack of a better term. One I keep going back to - to brush up from time to time.