Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying, by Scott Sanchez

Beginning saltwater fly tyers are often uncertain what book to choose as a basic guide for tying saltwater flies. Saltwater flies, although generally larger and less detailed than freshwater patterns, require special skills to tie and often incorporate unusual and puzzling materials. Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying, by Scott Sanchez, is a book many novice saltwater tyers will find helpful. In Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying, Sanchez, who has spent many years in the fly tying and fly fishing business, provides a good overview of the materials and techniques required to tie a wide variety of proven saltwater fly patterns from the most basic to the most complex.

In the first section of Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying, Sanchez nicely organizes and summarizes the hooks, tools, threads, glues, feathers, flash, and other materials that have become staples in saltwater fly tying. After covering essential tying materials, Sanchez works through fundamental saltwater fly tying techniques. He demonstrates how to start the thread, wrap and tie off materials, and form half-hitches. Sanchez then slowly walks the reader through a variety of patterns that incorporate these core tying techniques. Each pattern Sanchez showcases is slightly more difficult to tie than the previous pattern. Sanchez slowly introduces readers to new materials and more complex tying techniques throughout the book, ending with epoxy flies and spun deer hair patterns- some of the most challenging flies to tie.

Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying is enjoyable on a variety of levels. It is educational and entertaining, and it showcases a really nice variety of saltwater fly patterns. Sanchez illustrates his techniques with photographs that are clear and easy to follow, and he maintains a good pace throughout the book. In short, Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying does exactly what it should do- it introduces anglers to the essential materials, skills, and techniques required to tie a large variety of effective saltwater fly patterns. If you are a novice tyer, or perhaps if your tying skills have stalled, Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying can get you on track and moving in the right direction.

Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying
By Scott Sanchez
160 pp. Pruett Publishing Company
ISBN: 0-87108-931-9