SUCCESSFUL MODERN SALMON FLIES. By Peter Mackenzie-Philps.

1989 1st edition. 8vo (160 x 242mm). Pp192. Colour plates of flies, b/w illustrations, brief bibliography. Blue boards, spine titled in gilt.

In this well-thought of and very useful book, Peter MacKenzie-Philps sets out to find out what salmon actually eat, what it looks like, and how this relates to practical fly tying. The author also addresses questions of fishing technique and practical, thinking approaches to new beats. Chapters include: What is a salmon?; Why did that beautiful fish take my fly?; Shut your eys and choose me a fly from that box; What does salmon food look like?; What materials are used in a modern salmon fly?; What do I dress a salmon fly on?; When is a fly not a fly?; How should I fish?; Some hints on fly-tying; Introduction to colour section. An appendix is included on suggestions on the size of the fly. A book for the thinking, observant angler, which is in no way dogmatic and does not try to sell any particular theory.