The Book Fly-Tying by Helen Shaw shows the way flys used to be tyed and gives all of the flytying nouns meaning. If you have ever wondered what a hackle is or any technicle question about different materials or techniqes this is the book for you. The only sad thing about this book is that it was written in the 50's and 60's as the materials show. but if you ever wondered how they made them from scratch this is the book for you!!!

Heln Shaw is known as one of the great fly tyers of all times

If you are looking for a good solid book to teach you the fundamentals of fly tying then this book belongs in your library. Photography could be much better but the instruction techniques are concise and easy to master.

This is the bood that really tought me to ty flies. I have read and tried to follow others, unlike all the other authors Helen teaches by method rather than by pattern. The pictures I personally think are excellent, she uses oversized materials for illustration. After reading and practicing the methods one will be able to ty a fly just by a list of materials without a picture or sample fly. If I were asked to reccommend only one book for one just starting this book would be it.

Shaw takes a unique approach to teaching how to tie. Rather than describing how to tie a Royal Coachman, for example, she organizes her chapters into fly parts and materials. So, there's a chapter on duck wings, a chapter on bucktail wings, etc. As a result, you can look at any pattern and figure out how to tie each part, regardless of whether you've tied the pattern before.

She also has hints on how to manipulate the thread or other materials to get a stronger and more lasting fly. No fly tyer shoud be without this book.