A review of Judith Dunham's The Atlantic Salmon Fly probably isn't necessary; it has been much ballyhooed in salmon-fly circles, and contains work by not a few contributors to The Salmon Flyer.

So this will be short and sweet. The Atlantic Salmon Fl v is one fine number. It delivers the same visual wallop as Ken Sawada's Art of the Classic Salmon Fly, but with more economy and a lot more philosophy, not to mention affordability.

The autobiographical/theoretical essays that accompany the photographs range from dithering to dazzling; all are worth reading, some more than once. A few of the essays are so lofty and rarified they would do Montaigne proud.

The photographs are stunning. Sometimes the settings come close to overwhelming the subject, but the flies ultimately grab your eye. There is a broad sweep to the patterns and styles of the flies, from unnamed historicals to classics and on to new compositions, with dressings listed in an appendix (no, Paul Schmookler did not give any secrets away). For the most part, the flies avoid the painfully priggish exactitude that leaves them without warmth and charm; no degenerates, either, as the flies are freighted with personality, and a few have a good dose of attitude. Bully for them. They help to avoid stasis.

The Atlantic Salmon Fly is alive. It looks ahead, behind, and around. It is inclusive and dynamic, and brings out the worst in my acquisitive instincts. All those who wish to send gift samples of their work to the editor are encouraged to do so.