Summer 2007 - Article by David Klausmeyer - Fly Tyer.

June 2005 - Review by Preston Singletary - Flyfishing and Tying Journal.

May 2005 - Review by Bruce E. Harang on behalf of the Federation of Fly Fishers.

September 2004 - Fly Fisherman - Bookshelf DVDs.

Summer 2007 – Article by David Klausmeyer – Fly Tyer.

Lights, Camera, Action! – Excerpt “Tie Beautiful Flies”

Do you have an interest in learning the finer points of tying classic Atlantic salmon flies? Then start with the DVD “Tying Spey Flies”. In “Tying Spey Flies”, award-winning fly tier Gerald G. Bartsch unlocks the mysteries to tying these timeless Scottish patterns. On “Tying Spey Flies” Bartsch demonstrates how to construct sparse, tight bodies, and proper hackling and ribbing techniques. He also shows how to tie sweptback Spey-style wings. This DVD will be of interest to all salmon and steelhead anglers, and anyone interested in tying beautiful flies.

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June 2005 - Review by Preston Singletary - Flyfishing and Tying Journal.

As I mentioned above, the popular interest in tying traditional Atlantic salmon flies never seems to wane; this is even truer of that subcategory of the salmon fly known as the Spey fly.

Flies of this style originated on Scotland's River Spey over a hundred years ago,and were commonly tied in rather muted colors, with long, mobile body hackles, typically those of the heron or Spey cock, a variety of rooster common in the Spey valley region at that time.

The flies usually featured wings made of slips of bronze mallard flank tied low over the back and the result was a sleek and graceful fly that was, and still is, attractive to both fish and anglers. In the late 1940s and 50s, Forks, Washington school teacher Syd Glasso combined the basic form of the Spey fly and the eye-catching colors of the Northwest steelhead fly and started a groundswell of interest in tying this style of fly that has not yet diminished.

In this DVD, Gerald G. Bartsch, ties four flies in the Spey style, two of them classic Spey patterns (Lady Caroline,Orange Heron) and two steelhead patterns (Purple Peril, Green Butt Purple Skunk) adapted to the style. All of the flies are tied with careful attention to demonstrating the techniques that are peculiar to the Spey fly; placing the tinsels and body hackles, and above all, placing and tying in the wing. I give this DVD high marks; it is well filmed, and the explanations of the tying steps are clear and concise. Copies of this DVD may be ordered from www.qualityflies.com

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May 2005 - Review by Bruce E. Harang on behalf of the Federation of Fly Fishers.

Would you like to tie great looking Spey flies for fishing? Spey flies that are good looking, well proportioned, and will look good framed if you so choose? If so, this sixty-one minute DVD will provide you with the information you need to accomplish these goals. The author is a commercial fly tyer specializing in Spey flies for fishing salmon and steelhead. As such he has a solid practical background in tying serviceable, good-looking Spey flies. While these are not designed to be display flies on blind-eye hooks with gut loops, exotic materials, and microscopically small heads, they are good looking and well made.

The DVD consists of a short introduction regarding the history of the Spey style fly and a slide show of classic and modern Spey patterns showing both good form and ingenious design. This is followed by clear, well-presented instruction on tying three Spey style flies and on Hairwing style fly. The first fly is the classic and probably most well known Spey fly, the Lady Caroline. In this first tying session you will learn to dub a tight body, lay in both the main rib and counter rib so they wrap properly, mount the Spey hackle so it mounts in the proper position behind the main rib, mount and properly tie off the collar hackle, mount the Spey wings, and finish the head. The information on mounting the ribs and wings is worth the price of the DVD by themselves. The second session ties the Orange Spey in a modern adaptation of an older pattern. Again you follow the lessons of the Lady Caroline reinforcing the lessons and improving your skill level. The third session shows how to tie a Spey variation of a classic Steelhead hairwing pattern the Purple Peril. Again you reinforce the lessons of the first two flies, including folding hackle, preparing the hackles, preparing the wing slips, and brushing out the collar hackle before gluing the head to provide a better-looking fly. The final lesson is tying a classic hairwing style fly. This is a variation of the original Steelhead pattern the Skunk, called the Purple Skunk. While not a Spey style fly this final lesson teaches the viewer how to prepare and tie in a hairwing so that it will not come out during casting or from fish taking the fly.

The quality of the photography is first rate as is the sound. The camera is always in focus and the close up shots are extremely well lit and composed to allow the viewer the detail and perspective needed to fully appreciate what is going on. The use of a black background is a nice touch so that the viewer can more easily concentrate on what the author is saying instead of being distracted by odd bits of fishing gear hung on a false cabin wall. This DVD is very well done. Hopefully, the author will produce more of this quality for other styles of steelhead and salmon flies. For anyone tying, or wanting to learn to tie, Spey style flies this is a must have DVD that provides both a good value and a great set of instruction.

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September 2004 - Fly Fisherman - Bookshelf DVDs.

Gerald G. Bartsch is a professional fly dresser from British Columbia who specializes in tying Spey flies. In this DVD (61 min., $24.95) Gerald demonstrates his style of tying with tips and techniques for tying three traditional-style Spey flies. Key techniques include hackling and ribbing, how to construct a body, and how to mount traditional wings.

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