John Gierach is a highly trusted and trustable opinion-maker in fly-fishing. People take what he says to the bank. While most of Gierach's writing is essay-style and reflective, here he gets down to the nitty-gritty: how he ties his favourite flies and why he thinks they work so well for him. There is, thus, an instant reader connection: 'Gierach's patterns are good enough for me'.

Few anglers will skip knowing what a master angler and thinker prefers for his fly box. This title covers a gamut of patterns essential to trout fishing in a variety of circumstances: dry flies, wet flies and nymphs, and streamers.

Gierach's legion of fans of his regular magazine column will be highly inclined to buy this title.