The Orvis Kid’s Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing- A Review

The Orvis Kid’s Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing- A Review

The Orvis Kid’s Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing, by Tyler Befus. Paperback, 84 pages, Sky Pony Press, 2016. $12.95.

When he was seven years old, Tyler Befus was a featured fly tyer at the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, New Jersey. He was a very cute kid, bright and serious, yet with a good sense of humor. Even more extraordinary than his fly tying, he had just finished his first book, which was at the publishers at the time. It was the original edition of the Kid’s Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing.

In the preface of this new edition, Tyler writes, “I hoped to excite other youth- and even their parents or other beginners- about fly fishing and to show that this sport has something that will interest almost all people.” In the ten years since the publication of the original, Tyler has gotten a lot more fly fishing under his belt. He was very fortunate to be the son of the marketing director of Ross Reels. His dad knew almost everyone who was anyone in the world of fly fishing, and Tyler learned from most of them.

Since Tyler was fly-fishing almost before he was out of diapers, and since he has such an outstanding pedigree, he was more than qualified to write this book. What I especially liked about it, in addition to the large type (I could read it without my glasses!) is that Tyler shows a depth and breadth of knowledge while explaining complex fly fishing concepts in simple terms anyone, including children, can understand. It’s well written, but it ain’t stuffy, folks!

Eight chapters cover What is Fly Fishing, the fish you can catch with a fly rod, how to find fish, the gear used, the methods used, how to imitate what fish eat, Fly Fishing is More Than Catching Fish (a tremendous insight and a brilliant thing to include), and how to make fly fishing whatever you want it to be. He explains fly fishing terminology as simply as possible, and includes plenty of interesting personal anecdotes.

Color photos, pencil drawings, pen and ink drawings, and Tyler’s own artwork illustrate the pages.

Tyler wrote The Orvis Kid’s Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing with children in mind, but anyone who wants to get started in fly fishing would find it an invaluable, easily understood introduction to the sport. It’s a fantastic little book for both children and adults, and gets this reporter’s highest recommendation.

John Kumiski