Leland on Lafontaine's Legacy
Lafontaine's methods changed fly tying in America. The 26 patterns with proper tying instructions detailed here are the final legacy of him. The Beattys provide thorough tying instructions which are accompanied by vivid color photos to depict the various stages of creating each pattern on the tying bench as well as the completed fly. Documents an important piece of American fly-fishing history. Gary LaFontaine has automatic name recognition in the fly-fishing world—he’s known as one of the smartest and most dedicated innovators of new trout fly patterns in the latter twentieth century. His methods changed fly tying in America, and he was nowhere near done when he died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2002 at age fifty-six. His death was mourned around the world. 7x9 inches, 128 pgs.
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Many of the flies in this posthumous collection of trout-fly patterns are likely to become enduring standards. Authors Al and Gretchen Beatty were working with LaFontaine and tiers Paul and Char Stimpson on an instructional film in the months before the fly tier died. These are the flies that LaFontaine spoke of during filming. These are the flies showcased in LaFontaine’s Legacy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Al Beatty owns BT's Fly Fishing Products of Boise, Idaho, and is a frequent contributor to Fly Tyer. He is the author of two fly tying guidebooks and, as LaFontaine's close friend, he interviewed LaFontaine extensively for a documentary that was never completed, but was the source for La Fontaine's last fly designs.
