Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants

by Randall Kaufmann

Published by Umpqua Feather Merchants, Oregon, USA. First published 1995 – 280mm x 215mm. 176pp, Second Edition now 231 pages. Second edition ISBN 0967143012 Published in 1998

This excellent reference work has now been upgraded with 1,500 fly patterns. Umpqua Feather Merchants is now offering Randall Kaufmann’s second edition of Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants. In this new edition, we have added an additional 450 new Umpqua flies, making this a collection of the world’s best 1500 fly patterns. All the latest patterns from tiny dry flies to sailfish patterns are pictured in perfect detail.

Great attention is paid to photographing each fly in its natural fishing position.In addition to the latest trout, steelhead, bass and saltwater patterns, the book profiles fifteen famous Umpqua Feather Merchants contract fly designers: Thee Bakelaar, Tim Borski, Andy Burk, Bob Clouser, Larry Dahlberg, Randall Kaufmann, Lefty Kreh, Gary LaFontaine, Mike Lawson, Craig Mathews, Mike Mercer, Bob Popovics, Ed Schroeder, Shane Stalcup, and Dave Whitlock.

The expanded materials section contains over 100 photographs with Tiemco hooks and Metz hackle thoroughly explained.

The colour photographs of the flies are very clear making it possible to copy them at your tying bench.

Long out of print copies of Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants often sells for more than its original cover price!

An interesting and useful addition to any fly tying enthusiasts library. The quality of the photographs is very high. I’ve found the section containing photographs and explanations of 103 different materials to be a great reference when at the tying bench.

I have the 176 pages first edition. The later revised edition has been expanded to 231 pages.

To give you some idea of the scale of this work, just the chapter on Saltwater Flies alone contains 20 pages, with colour photographs and a list of the materials needed to create each one covering a total of 180 different saltwater fly patterns.

The other chapters are on dry flies, nymphs, streamers, steelhead salmon flies and bass flies.

The index contains seven A4 size pages making it a very good reference point when trying to find a particular pattern or some other feature. 

I have no hesitation recommending Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants by Randall Kaufmann. It is one of my all-time favourite fishing books that I refer to often.