Blacker's art of fly making, &c

In Short

This comprehensive nineteenth-century manual serves as a definitive guide to the intricate art of fly making and angling. The author systematically breaks down the precise methods for dressing trout and salmon flies, selecting materials, dyeing feathers, and choosing tackle. Beyond workbench instructions, it conducts a grand tour of famous salmon rivers and lakes across Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. Preserved through its meticulous technical clarity and deep passion for the craft, the text stands as a historic bridge between traditional aquatic observation and the modern discipline of fly fishing.

The Story

The work opens with an earnest foundation in the philosophy and physical mechanics of artificial fly tying. It immediately establishes that successful angling relies on the accurate observation of real insects and their aquatic environments. Beginning with basic constructions, the narrative walks through step-by-step procedures for crafting simple trout flies before elevating the craft to double-hackle palmers and elaborate, gaudy salmon lures. The instruction takes a conversational, instructional form through a structured catechism that troubleshoots common errors, such as properly placing wings, securing tinsel, and wrapping hackles so they mimic natural movement underwater.

From bench technique, the focus shifts to the natural cycles of the riverbank, offering a month-by-month calendar of emerging insect life from early spring through late summer. Specific material combinations—from yellow-green mohair to dyed mallard feathers—are provided to match the exact seasonal diet of hungry trout. This entomological calendar transitions into a broader exploration of fish species, detailing the lifecycle of salmon fry, grilse, and sea trout varieties across different habitats.

The narrative then expands into a detailed geographic survey of Great Britain and Ireland’s premier fishing waters. The author acts as a seasoned guide, navigating the reader through the wild river systems of Ireland, including the Shannon, Killarney, and the famous "cuts" at Waterville, before venturing into the classic salmon runs of Scotland, such as the Tweed, Tay, Spey, and Ness. The tour continues through the neglected rivers of Wales and the chalk streams and coarse-fishing spots of England. Along each stop, practical advice on local inns, boat permits, and riverbed topography is paired with exact fly recommendations tailored to local currents and weather conditions.

After covering coarse fishing techniques for pike, barbel, and perch, the text culminates in a technical guide to chemical dyeing. The author outlines precise laboratory recipes for transforming natural feathers using madder, cochineal, alum, and tartar into vivid scarlets, blues, and purples. The manual concludes on a warm, reflective note, encouraging novice anglers to combine industry, observation, and patience to master a rewarding craft.

How It Unfolds

The foundations of the bench The work begins with step-by-step directions for tying basic trout and salmon flies, introducing fundamental materials like tinsel, floss silk, and hackles.

The instructional catechism Through a series of detailed questions and answers, the text troubleshoots mechanical technique, illustrating how to set wings upright, secure heads with varnish, and achieve proper balance.

The seasonal emergence A month-by-month breakdown details the specific flies appearing on the water from March through August, matching natural insects like the Green Drake with custom fur and feather dressings.

Tackle and salmon natural history Instructions on constructing four-piece rods from ash, hickory, and bamboo precede a natural history breakdown of salmon, white trout, and grilse lifecycles.

The grand river survey The narrative embarks on an extensive journey across Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and English waters, outlining specific pools, local access rules, and landscape features for each river system.

Coarse fishing and chemical dyeing After explaining pike trolling and bait methods, the book provides precise workshop instructions for dyeing feathers and dubbing into vibrant angling colors using natural dyestuffs.

The People

William Blacker The author and master fishing tackle maker of 54 Dean Street, Soho, London. Driven by a desire to convey a durable, correct understanding of fly making to his pupils, he believes that patience, careful observation of nature, and honest industry turn beginners into skilled artisans. He ends his work expressing deep respect for his fellow anglers.

Prince Albert The Royal Patron whose acknowledgement opens the book's prestige. Represented through official correspondence from Buckingham Palace enclosing a ten-pound cheque, his patronage establishes the authority and elite standard of the manual within mid-nineteenth-century British sporting culture.

Mr. Murdoch A keen native angler from Ayr and friend of the author. He brings a pragmatic, localized enthusiasm to the text, praising Blacker's "mest noble flees" while sharing effective jointed pig-hair fly patterns designed specifically for Scottish waters like the River Doon.

Mr. Butler The accommodating proprietor of the salmon "cuts" at Waterville in County Ireland. He represents the welcoming local authorities encountered throughout the river survey, generously granting visiting anglers instant permission to fish for salmon in local waters and keep their catch.

In Its Own Voice

"To give something that will convey a durable and correct idea of Fly-making, Angling, and Dyeing of Colours to my pupils, is what I aim at, and desire they should understand..."

The author introduces his overarching goal: equipping students with permanent, practical mastery over every phase of the angler's craft.

"Many a pleasant hour may be spent, that otherwise would prove tedious, when confined to quarters of an unfavourable day, far from home, looking over your dubbing book and tying a fly."

This line captures the contemplative comfort the craft offers during bad weather, presenting fly tying as a soothing retreat for the mind.

"...as the Chinamen say, that 'time and industry convert a mulberry leaf into a silk shawl,' so perseverance will be the means of the fly maker's success..."

In his concluding remarks, the author invokes an old adage to emphasize that steady practice and patience are the ultimate secrets to mastering fly construction.

What It's Really About

Beneath its procedural instructions, the book is an argument for intentional observation and creative self-reliance. It asserts that successful angling is not a matter of luck or brute force, but an intellectual engagement with the natural world. By learning to decode the subtle hues of emerging insects, the shifting depths of river pools, and the chemistry of natural dyes, the angler transforms a simple pastime into a lifelong study of ecology and craft. The text presents fly tying as an therapeutic antidote to urban noise, offering quiet focus and a deeper harmony with the outdoor environment.

Why Read It Today

Modern fly fishers, craft enthusiasts, and social historians will find this manual a fascinating artifact. Reading it feels like sitting in a Victorian tackle shop while an old master shares his lifetime of bench secrets and river lore. The prose is grounded, highly detailed, and completely unpretentious, driven by a genuine passion for sharing practical knowledge.

While contemporary readers may find some difficulty in navigating archaic material names or historical regional geography, these period quirks add to its antique charm. The meticulous dye recipes and structural fly diagrams offer a rare, unfiltered look into mid-nineteenth-century artisan manufacturing before synthetic materials took over. What remains long after reading is the author's infectious reverence for rushing streams, fine craftsmanship, and the quiet contentment found at the riverbank.