Tying Flies for Trophy Trout: From BC's Kamloops Country

A.J. Pell is rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Diocese of New
Westminster, British Columbia.

Jack Shaw’s name is a beacon to fly fishers in British Columbia and
one that fly-fishing enthusiasts across Canada should get to know. His
Fly Fish the Trout Lakes (1976) is a classic on the practical aspects of
trout fishing in the lakes of the B.C. interior.

Tying Flies for Trophy Trout, also a practical book, is organized into
four parts. Part 1, “Fundamentals of Fly Tying,” provides an
easy-to-follow introduction to fly tying for the novice; but it is
filled with hints about, and explanations of, particular tools and
techniques from which experienced fly tyers can learning something new.
Part 2, “Fly Fishing Lore,” explains the lake world of the trout.
Factors that influence the trout (water types, algae, barometric
pressure, and so forth) are examined to give the reader an understanding
of the basic life forms that can be successfully imitated with a fly.

“Fly Tying for Everyone” (Part 3) deals with 16 specific flies,
from Wooly Worm to Chironomid to Dragonfly. For each, the natural insect
is described and meticulously detailed instructions are provided for
tying the imitation. Part 4, “Insects and Imitations,” consists of
highly detailed photographs. For each insect/pattern described in Part
3, there is a photograph of the natural and one of the fly based on the
natural.

After reading this book, a fly fisher will have no excuse for poor fly
tying or for missing out on the action at any trout lake.