Viking Lars | Saturday, 17 December 2022
I don't think it's a surprise for any one who's been reading my frontpages (thanks to all 4 of you :-) that I'm a big admirer of Oliver Edwards. In the flyfishing realm, he is as close as I get to a real idol. I’ve enjoyed his articles, primarily in Flyfishing and Flytying for close to 30 years, I think and since I have his signature several times in my 1st edition of his book, I had to buy a working copy.
I consider many of his fly designs to be some of the most significant innovations in many, many years. Hans van Klinken once said to me that he considers Oliver Edwards’ Baetis nymph to be the most important innovation in fly design in decades.
Years ago, Oliver Edwards and Mark Gardner met on the banks in the Test, and Mark Gardner saw a potential. They worked together creating the “Essential Skills”-series of films, featuring Oliver and covering his favourite flies and the way to fish them. The filming, the mood, the fly tying and the entire concept has made this series my favourite of any fishing films. The films have excellent instructions on how to tie both Oliver’s innovative, modern flies and the old North Country Spiders
I’m not sure if there are still DVDs available, should any of you be old-fashioned enough to still have a player (like me). If not - don't panic! Mark Gardner has just launched a streaming service, where you can watch the films, so they are now easily available from the creators them selves.
So – yes, I’m a fan and as such probably biased, but now you know that. The streaming service is available here.
Just as on the DVDs, the service is divided onto chapters, so it’s easy and fast to access everything - and a lot faster than on a DVD. All the clips basically fall into two categories - fly fsihing and fly tying. Oliver Edwards demonstrates traditional North Country Spider-fishing, czech nymphing and so on. And vice-versa the fly tying clips demonstrate the accompanying flies.
There are different plans available on the website and at the time of writing this, also an option for a free trial.
Oliver is one of the true innovators of fly fishing in my opinion and yet, still firmly rooted in the centuries-old tradtion of Northern England. I highly recommend these films (and if you like them too, I also recommend that you watch them on the streaming service, rather than the pirate copies on YouTube).
I have attended several fly tying clinics with Oliver. Many years ago one, where we tied a Winter Brown. I have had an interest in the North Country Spiders since before I met Oliver Edwards, but I had limited access to publications. It was Oliver Edwards who first got me on the right track to understand the real background for these flies.
Have a great weekend!
Lars
PS. The originals were made 20 years ago, so don't expect present-day-ultra-high-resolution. The software will also downscale the resolution, to accomodate smoother playback on slower internet connections. And I know that Mark Gardner is currently working on making higher resolution available on the website.
I have no commercial interest.
PoD: A North Country-style wet fly of my own, a Baetis imitatiion, which has worked well in late March and April. A Waterhen Bloa is perfectly sufficient, but sometimes it's nice to create something of your own. I'm confident Oliver Edwards would approve.