Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

A.K. Best's "Production Fly Tying" is just that, a work devoted mainly to the honing of skills needed by anyone considering "production" fly tying.

Although many of the techniques apply to increasing work throughput (such as not putting scissors down or learning to whip finish by hand without the use of a tool), all of them are put forward with the idea of making you a better tyer.

The second edition covers a number of items that came onto the scene after the publishing of the first edition.

Good solid reading, laid out logically (what else from Best?) and a nice presentation with clear photos.

ak shares years of experience - coupled with the k.i.s.s. principal.

my intermediate fly tying instructor spoke highly of the book so - sight unseen - i bought it and i'm so glad i did.