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The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies Kindle Edition

by Ian Whitelaw (Author), Julie Spyropaulos (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.8 655 ratings

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A look at the development of the sport over the past six centuries.

Once limited to trout and salmon, today fly-fishing techniques are used to catch every fish species from minnows to marlin in rivers, lakes and oceans from the Amazon to the Arctic. From the many thousands of fly patterns developed over the centuries, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies focuses on fifty iconic flies chosen to represent the evolution not only of fishing flies and fly tying but also the sport itself.

Filled with illustrations and photographs of the flies (the fifty are just the starting point—more than 200 flies are mentioned or shown in the book), as well as profiles of key characters, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies charts the growth and diversification of this fascinating sport from the fifteenth century to the present day and its spread from Britain, Europe and Japan to North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and now to every country in the world. The evolution of fly-fishing tackle—rods, reels, lines and hooks—is also covered in a series of essays spread throughout the book.

Praise for The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies

“A delightful ramble along the stream of fishing history.” —Star Tribune

“This glorious book of lures will get you itching for a new toy, a new boat, a new rod—anything to experience the relaxation of this old hobby.” —Foreword Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A delightful ramble along the stream of fishing history.”―Star Tribune

“This glorious book of lures will get you itching for a new toy, a new boat, a new rod—anything to experience the relaxation of this old hobby.”―Foreword Reviews

About the Author

Ian Whitelaw, a freelance writer based in British Columbia, has been a regular contributor of articles to fly-fishing websites and magazines and has been the contributing editor on more than a dozen books on fishing for major publishers.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00V5EUYZQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stewart, Tabori & Chang; Abridged edition (April 7, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 21546 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 226 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #684,935 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #33 in Sports Equipment & Supplies (Kindle Store)
- #91 in Sports Equipment & Supplies (Books)
- #256 in Sports Fishing

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bruce r macpherson

A Master Class in Flyfishing History

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2022

Verified Purchase

As a lifelong, dedicated fly fisherman, I enjoyed this informative book immensely. In 217 brisk, beautifully illustrated pages Ian Whitelaw covers 500 years of fly fishing history from the English chalk streams where it originated to the freestone rivers and creeks of Pennsylvania and the Catskills and on to the coasts of Florida, the Pacific Northwest and beyond. In these essays Whitelaw includes not only the seminal fly patterns on which this book is based, but also the innovations in tackle and methods that advanced this sport to its current level of sophistication. The author gives credit to many of the sport's innovators, though a few important names are missing or barely acknowledged. For example, Ernest Schweibert ("Nymphs") is not mentioned in the book at all and Joe Brooks, the father of saltwater fly fishing, is noted only in passing. No matter. On the whole this fly fishing history is masterfully written and falls on the reader like a long, effortless cast by Lefty Kreh with the fly barely dimpling the surface of the water when it lands.

6 people found this helpful

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Raymond R

History of fly fishing

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023

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Great history and excellent illustrations.

2 people found this helpful

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janet kickel

Fishing for a good gift?

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2015

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I purchased this book for my son-in-law for Father's Day. He is an avid fly fisherman and I had hoped he would like it. When I gave it to him he looked through it very carefully. He was so pleased. He said he could hardly wait to read it. He even had a plan. He would read about one fly at a time. Some of the things he liked about the book were the organization of it, the many illustrations and the fact that it was very detailed. I , too, found the illustrations very interesting. The book was easy to read though it provided so much information. It is a book you can keep on the bedside table and pick it up and read a bit without having to start at the beginning and read from beginning to end. It is a good gift for someone who is a fly fisherman or aspires to be one.

13 people found this helpful

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Opal Marchbanks

Nice book

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024

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Nice!

One person found this helpful

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Jason Freund

Very good book - too English-speaking centric

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2018

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A really interesting idea that generally succeeds. Heck of an undertaking. Really more of a history of fly tying than of fly fishing - though it does a pretty good job at that as well. The early European history is pretty good - but there are more complete histories. Of particular interest was the 1900's and the intermixing of European and North American ideas. Very much an English-speaking and trout-centric history. With the exception of a Polish woven nymph and the last fly, a Kebari fly from Japan, I think all the flies were English or North American in origin.

I'd quibble at the some of the choices - but who wouldn't? No CDC flies. That seemed like an opportunity to include a French or Eastern European fly (like the F Fly). Parachutes - which I'd love to know more about the origin of - get a brief mention under the Adams.

I've read a bit but am no expert on the history of fly fishing but I have to think there are many flies and much history from non-English speaking places that deserve more coverage.

14 people found this helpful

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HatchMar

Love it!

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2023

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This is a great book to read in the off season. I makes me wish it was April even more now

One person found this helpful

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edh1620

More than history

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022

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This book does tell the history of the sport, but is much more. A great introduction to the many styles of fly fishing, the philosophy of the sport, and the legendary people who developed them. Excellent pictures of each fly and its components, but don’t come here for tying instructions. If you know the basics of the sport, this book will take you to the next level.

4 people found this helpful

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r.j.fritz

Very satisfied

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

Excellent condition and service.

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