Book for finding orginal dressings of flies and history?

[roll cast]

After having looked through the classics section I would like to know what book/s are best for finding original patterns and/or history of fly patterns.

Don't want to spend a fortune but as me birthdays soon I could squeese one in as a present among with the fly line and reel I'm getting early from my parents.

Thanks
AL

[flytire]

there is a lot of old books on the following website that are free and may have some history about the patterns inside of them

Internet Archive Search: subject:"Flies, Artificial"

[BRUCE1]

North-country flies. Comprising eleven plates of hand-painted illustrations, from the author's own drawings, with particulars of the dressings and season of each fly; and chapters on fishing the minnow, the creeper, the stonefly, and the worm in clea

The angler's manual; or, Fly-fisher's oracle. With a brief compendium of bottom-fishing

The northern angler : or, Fly-fisher's companion

[darwin]

Someone had referenced an old book, A Dictionary of Trout Flies in a post I read the other day. 400 pages, but I have not had a chance to look at it.
Happy Birthday

[steve collyer]

I suggest a search on amazon or ebay for Robson's Guide by Kenneth Robson.
Loads of info on 600 flies with great photos of around 350 of them.

[steveparton]

Bergman and Bates ( two books ) for 2 major American Dictionaries .

Courtenay Williams , Veniards Original Guide and a whole host of minor stuff - Maybe John Roberts's worth a look plus Robson .

As I've said before - a mere £17,000 and you can have all of mine ( 700 )

Best wishes

Steve P

[yorkio]

Originally Posted by darwin

Someone had referenced an old book, A Dictionary of Trout Flies in a post I read the other day. 400 pages, but I have not had a chance to look at it.

A. Courtney Williams's A Dictionary of Trout Flies would seem to most closely fit the OP's requirements from the sound of it. It's a reference work, but with lots of anecdotal stuff about the history of the patterns etc. He's rather opinionated and it's not 100 percent comprehensive, but it's a great read and an excellent starting point, I'd say.

[Highlander]

Tom Stewarts: 200 Popular Flies & How to Tie Them is a good choice for traditional flies.
Publisher A & C Black 1979 but still available today.

Tight Lines

[wobbly face]

All the above plus T.Donald Overfield, "Fanmous Flies And Their Originators". A & C Black.

[bbamboo]

Originally Posted by yorkio

A. Courtney Williams's A Dictionary of Trout Flies would seem to most closely fit the OP's requirements from the sound of it. It's a reference work, but with lots of anecdotal stuff about the history of the patterns etc. He's rather opinionated and it's not 100 percent comprehensive, but it's a great read and an excellent starting point, I'd say.

I think If I had to pick just one Yes it would have to be Courtney.


Gary (nicho)

Bamboo rod maker.