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Masters on the Fly

March 2005

Creative Fly Tying

Mike Mercer

Most fly fishers think of tying flies in one of two ways: as a task—work necessary to keep their fly boxes full while saving a few dollars—or as an eternally fascinating extension of their fishing. To creative minds, designing trout flies can be a never-ending puzzle. It's always on their minds, teasing at their thoughts. Northern California's Mike Mercer is a card-carrying, dues-paying member of this group. Fortunate to have fished most of the planet's great fly-fishing destinations in his 40-plus years, Mike brings fresh and thought-provoking insights to the art of fly tying. These concepts are drawn from a lifetime spent on the water fishing and guiding, studying the prey and feeding habits of fish. In Creative Fly Tying, Mercer shows you how to think differently about trout flies. He guides you through the evolutions and epiphanies that went into the creation of 12 of his favorite innovative patterns: Copper Bead Micro Z-Wing, Copper Bead Micro Mayfly Nymph, Profile Spinner, Rag Sculpin, Lemming, PMD Trigger Nymph, Zebra Midgling, Sac Fry, Rag Hex Nymph, Glasstail Caddis Pupa, Gold Bead Poxyback Green Drake Nymph, Gold Bead Biot Epoxy Golden Stone Nymph. You'll learn his thought processes, reasons, ruminations and biases. You'll better understand the tools-mental and material-of his trade. Mercer teaches not just what materials to use, but why. Very little is left to chance in Mike Mercer's flies. They are truly designed, head to tail. Along the way, he offers anecdotes and elucidations on fly fishing that entertain and support his observations. Tying sequences are elaborately and exquisitely photographed by Ted Fauceglia, America's foremost macro-photographer of aquatic insects.

Trade Edition: $39.95 hardbound, 160 pages

Limited Edition: $200 slipcased, signed and numbered 51-250

Premium Edition: $750 (Includes slipcased and numbered books 1-50 signed by Mike Mercer with matching framed archival shadowbox with the 12 original fly patterns featured in the book, personally tied by the author.)

To reserve your Premium Edition of Creative Fly Tying, e-mail premium@wildriverpress.com. Numbers will be reserved strictly in the order received and purchased. Prices do not include shipping or insurance charges, which are additional. Washington State residents add 8.9% sales tax.

Click Here To Order!

Street shipping address: 2315 210th Street SE, Bothell, Washington 98021