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 Friday June 14th 2013 (5 days ago)
We're chained to our computers, thinking about fly fishing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Good books |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published: Friday June 14th 2013 (5 days ago) Updated: Friday June 14th 2013, 6:11PM by Martin Joergensen
I did my usual trip through on Paul Morgan´s Coch-y-Bonddu book site, and found more great offers than I usually do. I thought I'd share some of them with you.
I just did as I do once in a while: go through the tempting pages of Coch-y-Bhondu's bargain books. I always find something I want and mostly order a whole bunch of books.
Oliver Edwards 9.95£ (15.50 US$, 11.75 Euros) One of the real classics in fly-tying with some great fly patterns and exquisite illustrations, both drawings and photos. A must have for any stream fisherman. The GFF review is found here. The World's Best Trout Flies John Roberts 9.95£ (15.50 US$, 11.75 Euros) An excellent book with lots of great patterns from tyers all over the world and some really pretty and useful drawings. Read our review here. Featherwing & Hackle Flies for Salmon A Comprehensive Guide for Anglers & Flytyers Chris Mann 7.95£ (12.50 US$, 9.50 Euros) A beautifully illustrated pattern book in Chris Mann's series of salmon fly books. These books are usually priced at 20-50£, so this is a bargain. We reviewed another volume here. Photo and destination books
The World of Fly-Fishing Tom Rosenbauer 7.95£ (12.50 US$, 9.50 Euros) A coffee table book in the true sense of the word. Large format and with lavish and beautiful photos and some text to describe each of the locations. Streams of Dreams A Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Around the World John Ross 5.95£ (9.50 US$, 7.- Euros) Another mesmerizing journey around the world with beautiful pictures of various fishing destinations accompanied by explanatory and informative text. Friends on the Water Fly Fishing in Good Company R. Valentine Atkinson 7.95£ (12.50 US$, 9.50 Euros) Atkinson's books contain some of the best fly-fishing photography to be found, and this book is no exception. Add to that the prose written by some of the greats in fly-fishing and you have a real hit. Novels, short stories
Reflections of a Passionate Fisherman John Bailey 4.95£ (7.80 US$, 5.85 Euros) A pensive and entertaining book about the experiences of a fly fisherman who has been fishing many places in the world. Fly-Fishing The 41st Around the World on the 41st Parallel James Prosek 7.95£ (12.50 US$, 9.50 Euros) A really excellent book by renown painter James Prosek who is also a very good writer. Engaging and entertaining. Our review. So there you have it, a little more than 60 £, 100 US$ or about 75 Euros worth of great books and enough to start a very nice fly-fishing and fly-tying library - or a cheap way to supplement the books already in your shelves.
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| Part of the blog chain "Books" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ode to three books – and Mike |  |
| Published: Sunday June 2nd 2013 (2 weeks ago) Updated: Sunday June 2nd 2013, 3:52PM by Martin Joergensen
I just saved more than 4,200 US$ on three used books. Now that´s what I call a bargain!
Three books, more than 4,200 $ saved! Presentation by Gary Borger Fly Patterns by Randall and Mary Kaufmann The River Behind the Hill by Philip Weigall The reason for my moaning was that on April 10th when I wrote the blog entry about them, I would have to pay 4,300 US$ to buy all three on Amazon. And no, that's no typo. Four thousand three hundred US dollars for three used books! As I wrote back then, this price made no sense at all, and did in no way mirror the value of the books, but was the outcome of some strange mechanism on Amazon that sometimes drive prices on used book sky high. I have no idea what causes this, but I can just see that it happens. One seller will set a crazy price, and other sellers will follow troop. The books are typically hard to get titles, which are rarely on offer, and always out of print and unavailable through the publisher or other channels. They are not rare or collectors items as such and neither special bound or autographed by Reagan, Bush or Obama – or even the author for that matter. Amazon lists them now and then, but at ridiculous prices. Well, fate would that I actually own all three books now. And no, I didn't shell out 4,300 US$ to get them. I had added all three to my wish list on Amazon, and I go through it from time to time, checking the prices and buy when the price is right. First the Wiegall book was suddenly set at just over 20 UK£ or 30 US$ including postage. One-click here I come! A pretty far cry from the 1,800 US$ it was listed for just a month before. The book was used but in very good condition and is a very beautiful book indeed. Then the Borger title suddenly appeared at 28 UK£ or about 43 US$. A massive price drop from the 2,000 US$ that was the price in April. Again I clicked. The book was listed as being in good condition, but having been a library book that wasn't exactly the case. Still it's a rare book, and the pages are fine, but the cover has some “history” in the form of a glued dust wrapper and assorted stamps and notes plus a lot of wear. Never mind. It's a great book, and I have already enjoyed reading in it. Then I was only missing the Kaufmann Patterns book, and that would come to me for free! Yes, for free in the form of a very generous gift from my US friend and GFF contributor Mike Hogue of Badger Creek Fly Tying fame, whom I fished with during my recent trip to the US. Mike had brought a whole bunch of things and I was overwhelmed by his generosity, both in taking the initiative to the trip, setting up some excellent fishing, bringing gear and flies – and a kick boat – and arranging some tying in the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. And then the gifts! Amongst them the Kaufmann book, which is now home safe in Denmark, laying on the table right in front of me next to the two others. Mike kept saying “I'm so tired of people being mean to each other” and he and succeeded above all expectations in being nice. Thanks Mike! Mike being nice again So the net result on the book front: three excellent volumes in the house and 4,237 US$ saved! That's how I like to acquire books. PS: The Borger book is currently listed at between 150 and almost 500 US$, Kaufmann title between 100 and 170 US$ and the Wiegall title as low as 50 UK£ or about 75 US$. None of them are cheap, but at least they don't cost the same as a car anymore!
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| Part of the blog chain "Books" | |
Teaching and tying in the US |  |
| Published: Sunday May 5th 2013 (6 weeks ago) Updated: Sunday May 5th 2013, 10:36AM by Martin Joergensen
I will be both teaching and tying with the GFF team at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum May 18th. Drop by if you're in the area.
In a couple of weeks I will go to the US. I will visit friends, fish a bit and do the tourist thing, all in the New York area for a couple of weeks.
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