A FLY DRESSER'S NOTEBOOK. By Donald Downs-Baird.

2005 1st edition. Spiral-bound red pictorial card covers. Ppiv,67. B/w line illustrations.

Donald Downs has been expertly tying flies for many years. Designed rather in the manner of Alfred Wainwright's famous fell-walking guides, this attractive facsimile of a handwritten notebook gives excellent drawings and step by step instructions. It will be invaluable to all fly-tyers for its practical content, and no doubt treasured in years to come, simply for its thoroughly satisfying appearance. Downs learned fly dressing from Geoffrey Bucknall and illustrated several books for him. He also worked with John Veniard, illustrating his books and tying flies in demonstrations with him. "In this book I aim to introduce a new technique with each fly - and enough flies to cover the minimum throughout the season." "This book is intended for those who feel that trout fly dressing is difficult [and] for anglers who dress one or two flies - and would like to dress a few more. It therefore looks at [the particular] techniques in some detail." Downs kept sketches of every fly pattern he ever tied, and the selection of flies in this book is compiled from these.