The title kind of gives it away, doesn’t it? This is the second book by Steve Thornton featuring his flies.

The book is divided into 4 main chapters on tying nymphs, hatching nymphs and emergers, dry flies and a chapter with one streamer – The Baptizer. All in all 15 patterns are described in step-by-step photography and text. Generally the text is short and kept to the point. On some of the more intricate tyings it is necessary to read the text several times to understand the steps as a lot is going on. Listen to the River, vol. 2 is printed on heavy, glossed high quality paper and spiral-backed. The spiral back makes it lie nice and flat on the table when tying without damaging the book.

Step-by-step
All the step-by-step photos are on white background, which makes it hard to see the exact tying steps on some patterns. Steve ties with a white GSP-thread and many of the materials are light-coloured. Especially the thread as a tendency to disappear against the white background. If you have read vol. 1, you’ll find that there are a few repetitions with minor updates on the tying technique (The Ammonite Nymph, The CAM Emerger and Spent Ephemera). A few of the flies are accompanied with a story on the fly or how and when to fish - more of this would have suited the book well.

Techniques
There are some interesting new ideas and techniques in the book. For instance, there is a Stonefly Nymph tied on a needle without a hook and fished “hair rig style”, which is used in carp- and coarsefishing. The idea is that you can weight the leader according to water speed and depth, and minimise the risk of loosing the fly. If you snag, only the hook will be lost (and you’ll be happy if you’ve tied one of Steve’s Stonefly Nymphs as they are not casual tyings). Another interesting technique is the “Legging Loop”, with which you can create neat parachute hackles with partridge-feathers. I have a tied a few flies with it – it looks really good. I’m concerned about the floatability and durability of such a fly, but time will show.

The Baptizer
The last fly stands out from all other flies I’ve seen from Steve Thornton. First of all, it’s big – and it’s a streamer – and it’s tied on a tube. A refreshing addition, even though it also stands out in that it’s not very realistic as such. Tied with a rabbit zonker wing and marabouhackles, it’s full of life!

The book could have done with a better proof-reading as there are some typos and grammatical errors. Not enough to taint the general picture, though.

This book is not for the casual flytier, or the beginner for that matter, as the tyings in most cases is quite intricate. If you are interested in super-realistic fishingflies, you’re bound to find a few new ideas and patterns!

Facts:
Listen to the River, vol. 2 by Steve Thornton.
144 pages in full colour with hundreds of photos.
The book is available from Virtual Nymph (telephone +44 (0) 1472 241439 and their stockists.