According to Steve Raymond, tying flies requires “imagination and skill, creativity and discipline, patience and vision.” But for the fly fisher, tying flies is more than that—it is the creation of a living insect from fur, feathers, or synthetic materials and is an art and a passion.

Blue Upright discusses the fly patterns that have served Steve Raymond most faithfully over the years. There are well-known and famous flies, such as the Crazy Charlie; there are flies that wouldn’t be recognized outside of the Pacific Northwest; and, more interestingly, there are flies of his own creation, which he uses alone or shares with only a few close friends. Here, he shares not only the flies but also the stories that go along with some of those flies, which include the Carey Special, Thompson’s Delectable Chronomoid, the Green Machine, and the Blue Upright.

Each of Steve Raymond’s favorite flies call to mind memories of landscapes, anglers, and fish that have passed through his life, and each of his stories will appeal to beginners and experienced fly tyers alike.

Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for fishermen. Our books for anglers include titles that focus on fly fishing, bait fishing, fly-casting, spin casting, deep sea fishing, and surf fishing. Our books offer both practical advice on tackle, techniques, knots, and more, as well as lyrical prose on fishing for bass, trout, salmon, crappie, baitfish, catfish, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.