The Feather Bender’s Advanced Flytying Techniques
Author: Barry Ord Clarke
Publisher: Merlin Unwin Books Price: £30

As a very average tyer of flies, I was a little daunted to be confronted by a book on ‘Advanced’ flytying. For sure there are many styles and techniques in the book I’ve never used; but isn’t that the point? I’m reading this to learn something new. None of it is so difficult that you end up thinking ‘well was it worth it?’ Such is the accessibility and convenience of the book that the skills are easily picked up.

This new volume is just a subtle step forward from the author’s excellent and accessible Flytying Techniques. Along with that earlier volume they are the two most practical and informative ever on the subject. As a world-renowned flytier of exceptional skill and innovation Barry Ord Clarke is revered by all who tie their own flies. A winner of prestigious tying awards he is now asked to judge those competitions. He demonstrates all over the world. Some of his fifteen previous books on tying justifiably have been best sellers and translated widely including into Japanese.

Of the 28 trout or grayling flies described at least half of them could be used for grayling. Almost all are of relevance to the river flyfisher. Inevitably there are some patterns I wouldn’t normally choose to use but it is clear their selection is to maximise and illustrate the greatest number of tying techniques. The potential significance for the reader is unlimited as the tying methods, advice and materials could be adopted and adapted into their own fly choices. Within each of the 28 patterns the author particularly highlights three different techniques to master; a total of 84 skills among many to incorporate into the reader’s own flies. In the introduction to each dressing the author explains why the materials and techniques are so integral to that fly. The benefits of a particular material or nuance in tying are explained with their significance to the imitation, its durability or ease of tying.

The photography of the tying sequences is outstanding and unsurpassed in any UK published book. There are up to 42 images of each tying sequence. Nothing is left to chance; every turn of the thread or movement of the material is clearly illustrated. Barry Ord Clarke is a professional photographer and it shows.

The unique selling point in this book is what makes this and Barry’s previous two books from Merlin Unwin Books invaluable is that there is a QR code alongside each dressing. This links to a YouTube video of the author tying the fly in vivid and unambiguous detail with a commentary of exactly what is happening. Barry was the first flytying author to include such links in his books. It is like buying the film of the book at the same time. It really is added value to the price of the book.

The author was at the front of the queue when the gifts of dexterity and an eye for detail were handed out. If you are like me, you will stumble through your fishing seasons with some fairly scruffy flies which will take a few fish. With this book there is the opportunity to up our game with a book (and video) to dramatically improve the quality of those flies.

I ought to declare a minor interest in that 2 years ago Barry Ord Clarke provided some grayling flies for my book Grayling On The Fly. He also did the fly photography. I chose wisely.

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The Feather Benders Advanced Fly Tying Techniques is available now on the following:

Merlin Unwin Books UK – Buy

AMAZON – Buy

The book is also scheduled for publication in the USA February 2025 by Skyhorse publishing – Buy

The book is also scheduled for publication in Japanese October 2025. I’ll keep you posted regarding all these publication dates.