This intimate glimpse behind Gierach's vise focuses on the trout flies he has found most successful & how he ties them. How he developed as a fly tyer - from a hopeless tinkerer to settling on a large handful of favorite patterns that now catch most of his trout. Gierach explores the tools he uses for his tying & he makes his case for the use of natural materials. The flies themselves -- small, medium, & large mayflies, spinners, midges, caddis, hoppers, nymphs, & streamers. Throughout, the book is punctuated with fishing stories & observations on days astream as well as days at his vise, all in Gierach's inimitable style. B&W illustration throughout; 6x9 inches, hardcover, 192 pgs.