THE NORTH COUNTRY FLY: YORKSHIRE'S SOFT HACKLE TRADITION. By Robert L. Smith.

2015 1st edition. 4to (195 x 252mm). Ppx,302. Colour and b/w photographs, line drawings. Dark blue boards, spine titled in gilt.

Beautifully illustrated with examples of actual flies and materials, and with images from the original manuscripts, this book tells the definitive story of the North Country fly. The author's research has brought to light many rare documents, providing evidence for a tradition of imitative fly dressing, particularly in Yorkshire's Wharfedale, going back over 300 years. He has had access to several rare and early fly lists and his book includes the full texts of several previously unpublished manuscripts - from William Lister's fishing diary 1712-1724 to a number of fly-lists of nineteenth century beck-watchers. Additionally he provides much new information on previously published sources such as Walbran, Pritt and Edmonds and Lee, as well as up-to-date information on tying and fishing soft-hackle flies. "...a sheer joy to read, standing head and shoulders above all others on the subject of soft-hackled flies." (Paul Procter in Trout and Salmon Magazine).