I find this an extremely useful book to tie from, since a number of original sources are brought together in a knowledgable manner. The dust jacket says it lists 165 fully dressed flies, but it gives way more than those, since each entry includes several related patterns, some variations but others distinct. For example, under The Silver Grey (a favorite of mine), is given the original pattern (James Wright), a historical summary, Blacker's dressing from 1855, the J.J. Hardy and J.H. Hale distinguishing wings, and a comparison with the slight variation according to Mr. Kelson. Then Frodin gives the Pryce-Tannatt dressing that is often repeated in modern books.

Without Frodin, one would have to own copies of about six different books, most of which are out of print and very expensive, if ever located. Having the dressings all together and at hand, when one sits down at the vise, makes it possible to tie any and all versions, and do so correctly. What I have said about Silver Grey is true about most all other patterns listed; instead of 165, there are five or six hundred dressings included in the book, which makes it a considerable bargain.

Additionally, there are the photos. Frodin is a fine tier and has used only original materials. He has included, in color, drawings from Blacker, Mr. Kelson, etc., which are invaluable. The photography can be faulted, though only slightly. The colors tend to become muddy due to lack of frontal lighting. Still, most are good enough to sort out materials, colors, and proportions. Index and cross-references in the text are very helpful. After Jorgensen, this is probably the next book I would recommend to a beginner at this complex craft of ours.

Combs has done it again, only bigger and better than the two previous times, which makes him probably the authority on this game fish, in much the same manner as Lee Wulff is on the Atlantic salmon. Combs shares expertise in the field, however, with a large number of accomplished anglers, who are listed according to their home rivers. It is an omnibus edition, a veritable encyclopedia on the fish, and includes as in the past hundreds of fly patterns (many of which are headed, I suspect, for the graveyard). All the important ones are here.

Atlantic salmon flies and steelhead flies have long shared common ground. Those of us who love both have caught steelhead on traditional salmon-fly patterns and vice versa. The hair-winged flies probably come closest to the overlap. For example, I could happily fish Black Bear, Green Butt, or Black Bear, Red Butt, and not lose any effectiveness with steelhead. Similarly, I'll bet salmon fishers could tie and use our popular maribou streamers and knock them dead (as similar flies did big brookies on the Nipigon, before they were outlawed because of their effectiveness). And our traditional hair wings would catch Atlantics, too.

The biggest area of cross-fertilization, however, is the Spey fly. It has long fascinated West Coast tiers because of its streamy, slender shape and quick entry and sinking abilities. The color fly plates of Spey-type flies in Comb’s book are impressive and instructive. Here is fine work by Bob Veverka, Steve Gobin, Dave McNeese, and Mike Kinney. John Farrar's Speys are outstanding. Joe Howell from the North Umpqua is represented with some handsome ties. Pat Crane, best known as Syd Glasso's friend and a fisher who continues tying Syd's patterns, is included. But for ties I could happily fish with because they are so fishy, give me Gobin, Farrar, and Kinney.

What the book says, most of all, is that it is a small world, a global fly-tying village as it were, and steelhead and Atlantics are not so different as today's fish biologists would make them out to be, with their new genus classifications, Salmo and Oncorhynchus. They are fished for much the same way and respond to a wide range of patterns tied internationally to meet only the angler's exacting expectations.