Reference Books of Trout Flies

Reference books listing fly dressings are invaluable.  I often forget the components of common enough patterns but comfort myself with the knowledge that even Albert Einstein had a poor memory and frequently thumbed through the pages of reference books, mind you, that is the only thing we have in common!  There have been few really good reference books recently, probably because the market demands books full of colourful pictures and sound bites rather than seemingly boring fly listings.  I generally rely on the following books for quick reference:

Courtney Williams, A., A Dictionary of Trout Flies and Flies for Sea-Trout and Grayling, A & C Black, 1949 (I rely on the enlarged fifth edition of 1973).  This book not only provides the details of many dressings but also adds fishing information and entertains with a wealth of historical material.  In some respects it may appear dated but it still contains nearly all our traditional flies.  The Dictionary really ought to be reprinted but I suppose publishers would be daunted by the task of bringing it up to date – so many patterns have been introduced since the 1970s.  On the other hand, who needs most of the flies designed since the fifth edition appeared?  There have been attempts to replicate the holistic success of Courtney Williams’ book yet few have come close to the original.

Jennings, P., A Book of Trout Flies, Crown, 1970 edition.  A book of naturals and artificials from the USA.  Preston Jennings’ book may seem out of date to readers in 2009, but then we still read Pritt or Edmonds and Lee!

Lawrie, W.H., A Reference Book of English Trout Flies, Pelham, 1967 (Lawrie also added slimmer books on Welsh and Scottish flies).  This is a book I just couldn’t do without for it facilitates quick access to the dressings from all the classic English books on fly fishing.  If you can’t afford copies of Pritt, Chetham, Aldam, Ogden, Henry Wade, Theakston, Jackson et al then Lawrie’s your man.  It’s not a book for bedtime reading, being dominated by lists of dressings, but then that is the nature of reference works.  Of course, being a very useful book – it is long out of print!  There will be copies available somewhere or other.

Malone, E.J., Irish Trout and Salmon Flies, Colin Smythe, 1984 (now available in the FFCL series).  Like Lawrie’s book this is a comprehensive reference work dominated by lists of dressings.

Roberts, J., A Guide to River Trout Flies, Crowood Press, 1989.  A useful book containing the dressings of old and new patterns – dry-flies, nymphs and wet-flies.  Many of the flies are illustrated in colour.

Stewart, T., Two Hundred Popular Flies and How to Tie Them, Benn, 1979 (originally published from monthly Trout & Salmon magazine articles in four separate paperback volumes: 1962, 1964, 1969 and 1973).  The combined volume provides excellent information on 200 traditional trout, sea trout and salmon patterns.  Yes, it’s a real traditionalist’s book!  I used to look forward to Tom’s little monthly pieces in Trout & Salmon and tied each new fly as it appeared.  There is a photograph to accompany each dressing and Tom’s own ‘homely’ sketches giving stage by stage instructions.  Tom Stewart was particularly knowledgeable about loch flies – something of a thin area in the literature of fly fishing.