Spey Flies and Dee Flies: Their History & Construction

Rating:
Summary: A very badly needed book
Review: Shewey clearly explains how to tie these beautiful and effective flies. Prior to this book, most of the information on tying these flies was only available in books by Kelson, Pryce-Tannat, etc. These books are over 100 years old and no longer readily available. Whereas the old books used mostly line drawings for illustrations, Shewey uses copious color photographs, and the close-up photography is excellent.

Shewey also discusses the materials used for these flies in great depth, and he gives some very interesting historical background information associated with where and when and how these flies came to be. It is like a trip backwards 150 years in time, and it greatly enhances the enjoyment of fishing and tying these flies. Shewey also covers the modern history of these flies: their introduction into the Pacific Northwest, and many modern patterns that simply would not have been possible 100 or 150 years ago.

Now if someone would only write a comparable book covering the Spey casting and Spey fishing techniques, especially how to select or build a double-handed long rod, and the various considerations involved in choosing a reel and line, and a travelogue of places to practice this very old form of fishing, then I would be a happy camper indeed.

Rating:
Summary: A very badly needed book
Review: Shewey clearly explains how to tie these beautiful and effective flies. Prior to this book, most of the information on tying these flies was only available in books by Kelson, Pryce-Tannat, etc. These books are over 100 years old and no longer readily available. Whereas the old books used mostly line drawings for illustrations, Shewey uses copious color photographs, and the close-up photography is excellent.

Shewey also discusses the materials used for these flies in great depth, and he gives some very interesting historical background information associated with where and when and how these flies came to be. It is like a trip backwards 150 years in time, and it greatly enhances the enjoyment of fishing and tying these flies. Shewey also covers the modern history of these flies: their introduction into the Pacific Northwest, and many modern patterns that simply would not have been possible 100 or 150 years ago.

Now if someone would only write a comparable book covering the Spey casting and Spey fishing techniques, especially how to select or build a double-handed long rod, and the various considerations involved in choosing a reel and line, and a travelogue of places to practice this very old form of fishing, then I would be a happy camper indeed.