I?ve known Ron Alcott for a number of years. In fact I used to buy, from Ron, the best tinsel for tying Salmon Flies, available anywhere, at the time. Ron has been a very good student of the Classic Flies of the past and as a result became one of the leading instructors. Many of tyers we hold in such high esteem today learned their Salmon fly basics from Ron. Names such as Mike Radencich, Al Cohen and Rick Whorwood to name a few as well as countless top notch tyers in North America and abroad all studied under Ron. Ron had a very close relationship with Joe Bates and Meagan Boyd. Ron is proud of the fact that he and Meagan communicated on a regular basis. He is especially proud of one note from Meagan sent (Oct. 12, 1986) to thank him for sending her a Childers he had tied as that was her favorite fly. It reads as follows ?As long as there is a Ron Alcott there is no need for a Meagan Boyd to tye classic flies. My fingers are now only fit for hairwings.?

In 1995 he had Building Classic Salmon Flies published by Countryman Press. The book never received the acclaim it deserved in part due to the lack of glossy color pictures. The book has been reprinted by Amato Publications. The book retains its 7-1/4? by 10? format and offers all of the quality information but has been done on extremely high quality paper stock and the tying sequence photos have been all redone in full color.

Building Classic Salmon Flies

In a book that will be welcomed by both experienced salmon fly-tyers and tyers who have not yet built a classic salmon fly, master fly-tyer Ron Alcott explains how to build these brilliant flies, which more than any others have risen to the status of an art form.
A student of the nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century writers on salmon flies, Alcott demystifies for today?s readers the often confusing information and instructions in those historic texts and offers extensive advice for contemporary tyers.
In the opening portion of the book, Alcott reviews the materials used through history to build featherwing salmon flies and recommends equally effective alternatives for those that are from now-protected species or are otherwise unavailable. Alcott also discusses and clarifies the colors used by classic tyers and recommends eighteen basic colors for today?s tyers. Other chapters explore the varieties of tinsels, wing types, and proportions.
Finally, Alcott leads the reader, step by step and with eighty-one photographs, through the building of five representative classic flies, and provides dressings for thirty-two more. Sixteen brilliant color plates illustrate many of the most renowned classic flies, including a number designed by Alcott himself, as well as feathers, silk colors, and antique tools.

The Book is available directly from Ron as are his collectible quality flies. A series of his flies are shown in thumbnails below simply click on them to enjoy a larger image.

Contact Ron directly at featherwing59@yahoo.com email or by telephone 978-448-3394.
The cost of the book is $45 for the hardcover edition, $35 for a softcover. The price includes Priority Mail postage. His Flies are available for the unbelievable price of $55 including postage as well.