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Shrimp
and Spey flies for Salmon - Book review
Shrimp and Spey Flies for Salmon by Chris Mann and
Robert Gillespie
(Merlin Unwin Books; £20)
A fascinating book. Part survey of Shrimp flies, from
the beginnings on the Spey and Dee through to their
modern incarnations across the world, which means
this is also in part a regional guide and catalogue
of a great many Shrimp flies ancient and modern, local
and foreign. Exciting, ambitious stuff.
Robert Gillespie’s text gives a fascinating,
and credible account of the history of shrimp flies
to date. All the more convincing since it is written
from the perspective of a hugely experienced tyer
and angler. So not only is there a wealth of anecdotes
and stories of tyers influenced by earlier flies and
other tyers, Gillespie also has the equipment to make
critical judgements and comments as to how and why
they were influenced.
Gillespie also makes strenuous efforts to be fair
and representative - meaning he is an Irish writer,
tyer and angler, so one might expect Irish Shrimp
patterns to dominate his thinking and book. Which
would be understandable since Irish tyers have developed
a wealth of Shrimp patterns. However, he is quite
explicit and aware of that possible trap and works
hard to achieve balance. That said it is probably
true to say that there is a great deal more detail
and information in the sections of Irish and Scottish
Shrimps than, say, the section on modern Scandinavian
patterns. I have to admit I’d rather it were
that way. Throughout, Gillespie shows a great deal
of respect for the tyers whose work he has called
upon.
Shrimp and Spey Flies for Salmon is copiously illustrated
with first-class computer generated images drawn by
Chris Mann. However, in my opinion, the pictures are
both a blessing a weakness. This is a wonderfully
colourful book, very nicely laid out and put together,
however, after a dozen pages of unrelenting stylised
images I found myself wanting to see a less than perfect
head, a real hackle, a split JC eye. Maybe this is
just the fly tyer in me finding it difficult to deal
with the relentless perfection of a computer drawing.
None of my flies will ever look like that, on the
other hand I doubt I’d want them to.
My gut feeling is that what this type of pictures
does well is provide a reference guide to the overall
shape, style and proportions of a fly. But they offer
little of no insight into how the fly is actually
to be tied. In fact it was quite enlightening, if
frustrating, to realise just how much information
one can glean from even a pretty average photograph
of a fly.
That said, overall, Shrimp and Spey Flies for Salmon
is highly readable, exceptionally well informed and
put together and despite my reservations it is generously
illustrated. And I am only guessing but the type of
illustration may explain why this is so inexpensive,
at £20 for 224 pages this is an absolute steal.
(See
'Useful Links')
Magnus Angus
More of Magnus Angus' book reviews in the January/February
2002 issue of Fly Fishing and Fly Tying magazine
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