AK Best: Advanced Fly Tying

Introduction by John Gierach
A fully illustrated guide to tying superior flies.

Praise for A.K.’s Fly Box:

“A. K. is one of the truly great tyers of our age. Because of his vast experience with trout, he has altered the way some favorite patterns are tied. Tie the flies the way he teaches in the book and use his advice for fishing them and you’ll take more fish. That’s a promise!” —Lefty Kreh

“This book realized every fly angler’s secret fantasy—to get a good, close, detailed look inside the fly boxes of a master tyer and fisherman. From the systematic choice of patterns to the explanations of fly design to the rationales for materials, this is sterling stuff. Few tyers are as outspoken and iconoclastic as A. K. Best. And few are right as often.” —Ted Leeson, author of The Habit of Rivers

Just as no two musicians will perform the same composition in an identical manner, fly tyers will use different techniques for tying the same fly pattern,” says A.K. Best in the introduction to his latest book. Advanced Fly Tying thus offers the author’s “interpretation” of how to apply advanced techniques for tying trout flies. Since Best has been teaching fly tying for 20 years, it’s hard to imagine an angler who wouldn’t benefit from this book, which discusses:

• How to choose a hair stacker, make dubbing needles, and sharpen scissors
• Why you may need a rotary vise
• How to tie Organza Spinner Wings, Magic Midge Larvae, Winged Bronze Beetles, Floating Hare’s Ear Nymphs, and more
• How to field dress flies to ensure a catch
• Why the head is the most important part of any fly

With color photographs to illustrate each point, Advanced Fly Tying will be a treasured addition to any fly fisherman’s library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.K. Best is a professional fly tyer of international stature, a manufacturer of custom fly-tying tools, and an ardent admirer of cane fly rods. His book A.K’s Fly Box is considered a classic. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, and appears regularly in John Gierach’s popular fishing adventures.