First and foremost this is not just a book for fly tiers. This book is just as relevant to all fly fishers because it is a compendium of flies and patterns that have proven their value around Australia. Whether you tie flies or not you must have these patterns in your fly box. This book is the result of five years of intensive research to find the best flies used by anglers around Australia. The patterns within are those used by these anglers to catch fish. In many cases, they reflect the angler's 'signature' variation to an existing pattern to catch more fish. There are over 800 patterns within this book, reflecting input from over 300 successful Australian fly fishers. I believe that in years to come many of these so-called variations will develop to be established patterns in their own right.
I have selected the chapters to allow fly fishers to more easily select flies for specific jobs. The chapters represent the best split of patterns that most of us use. However, the flies should not be restricted to the category into which I have placed them. One of the joys of fly fishing is to find a new application or angle to an established technique and to continually push and expand our fishing boundaries.
More than half the patterns have never been published before, and I know that they will help many anglers to be more successful.
