In 1890, Mary Orvis Marbury-daughter of Charles Orvis, founder of The Orvis Company-wrote to anglers all over the United States, asking about their favorite fishing flies and how they made and used them. Receiving answers from more than 200 anglers in 38 states, she compiled and edited their responses to create this book, first published in 1892. By 1896 the book had gone through nine printings-a smashing success.

With dozens of illustrations, including 32 full-color plates, along with detailed descrip-tions of nearly 300 flies and the author's expert advice on how to use them, this definitive reference is just as current today as it was more than a century ago-an essential addition to any angler's library.