Oliver Edwards fly Tying masterclass

[Malcolm]

I'veseen both of them tying flies. Oliver took absolutely ages getting everything just right and only tied a couple of flies in a couple of hours. Everything was incredibly precise and specialist techniques like using heated tweezers for legs. Davie on the other hand was much more like a normal fly tier - much faster in fact than most but everything just seemed to flow and work. Very very different.

[Wildfisher]

I am a huge Edwards fan, but his tying sometimes gets too close to model making  for me. Davie McPhail on the other hand ties fishing flies and he makes it look so easy! 

[harelug]

Re: Oliver Edwards fly Tying masterclass
« Reply #11 on: Today at 08:19:42 PM »
Quote
Im with you on that Malcolm,in that Ive seen both of them,the thing that was disconcerting about Edwards was that he tied towards himself   unlike most tiers

He is left handed.

Can't believe it's 20 years since he published, actually my first edition is 1994 so not quite 20 years. I've not tied all his patterns but a few, had great success with his hydro psyche pattern,but no doubt I might have done as well with a saw years killer bug, maybe with a shell back but no legs. They are described as super impressionistic, they do take time to tie, is it worth it?
His book is very well illustrated with sketches of all steps and photos of the final fly, it is easier to flick through the pages at the tying bench than refer to a video/DVD, maybe that doesn't suit everyone and time to tie these super impressionistic flies might not be for everyone.
He is an expert tier and if you learn his skills you might even be able to tie Davie McPhail flies as quickly and neatly as Davie. Each to there own I suppose!

[Highlander]

Like Inchlaggan I bought the book ( I have now sold it) when it was £20. In fact if I remember right just about when it first came out. Ah I remember now. Oliver Edwards did a demo in Glasgow promoting the book & I bought it then so was some time ago.
I suppose you could call it "A Masterclass" well at least for the few flies it shows you how to tie.
It is not a book for the beginner or even an improver but more for the more experienced.
Some of the flies depicted are in fact useless for actually fishing as they do not lend their self to be on the end of a line.
Not that they are technically bad, far from it but they just do not cast properly due to imbalance or simply bad design.
The" new" book I believe is just the "old" book with a new cover & £10 dearer.
Tight Lines

[Billy]

I had a wee go last night with one of his patterns. Not using the exact materials but it was just a trial to see how hard it was.

I just need to find 2" long nymph hooks to give me a fighting chance.

Billy

[squeakytyres]

I have a few Oliver Edwards DVDs but have never read this book or any other he may have written. The DVDs are very good.