Very good book

[Gene L 0]

That would be "Tying Catskill Flies" by Mike Valla.  It's printed on heavy paper and in brilliant colors for the flies.  I'm attempting to tie some of those beautiful flies.  If you get a chance, look it up if you have any desire to tie Catskill dry flies.  I read with interest about the early tiers' tying in hand  or like Theodore Gordon, using a thumb vise. A number of them used watchmakers vises or adapted other vises designed for other uses until the D. H. Thompson vise came out and a number of tiers switched to this process-built vise.  Also saw where Walt Dette's vise which he adopted apparently later in life to the Universal  rotary vise.  An encouragement to break out mine and see if I can make it work.

I don't know who is tying these classic flies today, when the style is "compact" flies with the excellent hackle  and hooks we have. If you're tying these, I would like to see them.

[Sandan 0]

Gene,

I tie 'em every now and then. 

[gadabout 0]

I never stopped tying Catskills dries.  I don’t follow fly fads.

 

 

[Gene L 0]

Very nice.  I wish I could tie like that.

[gadabout 0]

Just do it Gene.  It’s not that hard.  I’m not particularly good at it, but I still catch fish on them.

[DrLogik 0]

I started fly tying by Reuben Cross's book, "Tying American Trout Lures" in 1972-ish and never stopped.  Currently I'm on the North Country Spider binge though.  Gadabout is right, they still catch fish.

[Sandan 0]

On 6/19/2024 at 7:17 PM, Gene L said:

Very nice.  I wish I could tie like that.

Just go for it.  You know how to get to Carnegie Hall don't you? Without taking a taxi.

[Sandan 0]

1 hour ago, DrLogik said:

I started fly tying by Reuben Cross's book, "Tying American Trout Lures" in 1972-ish and never stopped.  Currently I'm on the North Country Spider binge though.  Gadabout is right, they still catch fish.

I can attest to it also. They still catch fish.

[GANGGREEN 0]

I tried to buy that book a few months ago and it was on backorder for the longest time and eventually they just cancelled my order.  I guess I'll try to order it again.  I've begun tying more parachute style dries than Catskill style, but I still do tie Catskill style flies at times and I'm curious about the history that Valla might detail in the book anyway.  

[Moshup 0]

I have found most of Valla’s books worth owning.

 

 

[Sandan 0]

On 7/29/2024 at 1:00 PM, Moshup said:

I have found most of Valla’s books worth owning.

 

 

 

Beauty tie (pic cut for brevity)