If you had a do-over…
- This topic has 19 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated Sep 4, 2007 at 2:58 pm by
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Great question – you show a lot of wisdom asking it.
In this order:
1) Troubleshooting the Cast by Ed Jaworowski
2) Advanced Fly Fishing Tactics by Lefty Kreh
3) The LL Bean Fly Fishing Handbook
4) Dave Whitlock’s LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing for Bass
Those will give you a good round grounding in the sport.
1. Flyfishing Small Streams: John Gierach
2. Fishing Small Streams with a Fly Rod: Charles Meck
3. Southeastern Flies: L. J. DeCuir
4. Fly Fishing The River of Second Chances: Life, Love, and a river in Sweden: Jennifer Olsson
5. Rise Rings & Rhododendron: Ian&Charity RutterThese are not the most conventinal for a beginner, these books are more of a literary and cultural value. If you read the one’s Zach mentioned for intstruction you can read my suggestions for inspiration.
Hans
Greetings Jackie:
You might take a look at my annotated fly-fishing bibliography.
http://www.flyflinger.com/bibliography.htmlMay you have good reading,
Scott
In this order:
L.L. Bean’s Guide to Flyfishing by Dave Whitlock
Curtis Creek Manifesto by Sheridan Anderson
Trout Bum by John Gierach
Dave Whitlock’s Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods by (you guessed it) Dave Whitlock
Seasons of a Fisherman by Roderick Haig-BrownLots of great information presented in different styles in these books. You should probably pick up a book aimed at whatever region/species you plan on fishing most, so you can pick up some practical advice on techniques and fly selection. I guess that would make six – oh well.
And don’t forget to put down the books and fish!
BB
EDIT: Looks like we cross-posted, Wes. Used booksellers through Amazon.com are generally reliable in my limited experience.
The Dry Fly: New Angles by Gary LaFontaine
Presentation by Gary Borger
Selective Trout by Carl Richards & Doug Swisher
Caddisflies by GAry LaFontaine
Anything by Roderick Haig-BrownAll true Scott, but keep in mind also that the White is one of the few epic-class rivers in the country.
We can move past the “least varied and most anemic”
Point taken … end of rabbit trail … please resume …
For myself, my fly fishing life began in the 1950s back in the UK my homelands.
The publications that l first read and still own were.1. The Fly Fishers Entomology by Ronalds, a very rare book to day.
2. Sunshine and the dry fly by J.W.Dunne
3.Brook and river Trouting by Edmonds and Lee
4.A dictionary of trout flies by Coutrney Williams
5.The Fly dressers guide by John Veniard.I have a very large collection of both UK and USA publications. What is interesting to myself is how many of the US publications pre 1950s are very much related to what was published back in the Uk in the late 1700s to early 1900s.
Not surprising really when you consider that the essence of fly fishing has its roots back in the UK and in some cases other places that are now termed as the ECI also own many of the Hardy catalogues of the late 1800s. Many of you guys would be very surprised to see what was available in those time. Great fly fishing history here that few are aware of to day.
Many flies of that time were exqusite works of art, by to days comparisons, there were no synthtics in those times.
Great skill was used to fashion flies from fur and feather.Zack.
On the matter of bug life here in the White river system compared to others.
Given my wordly experience of fly fishing more than 40 countries, and most of the well known systems here in the USA.
My view is that the White river is a very diverse body of water. I have seen caddis emergences here like l have seen in no other river system.
It does have great midge hatches, mayfly and stonefly.Granted you do not see mayfly species in numbers you may well see for short periods of time elsehwere, on the other hand we have a food base of difference that others do not have.
Fish here as you know can feed 365 days a year, not so for other systems.Also there are not many who know the river for its 100 miles of trout habitat. I
Only three books 😮
1) Lefty or Joan Wulff’s book or similar on casting – maybe the FFF video by Borger – but remember – you can’t learn casting from a book any more than you can learn skeet shooting from a book. Take some lessons from a good professional instructor. My experience with FFF certified instructors has been good.
2) A good fly catalog and tying book like many of those above. I like “Trout Flies” by Dave Hughes
3) “Selective Trout” by Swisher and Richards – no other book in my opinion is a better place to start.
Welcome to the sport – it is adictive.
Easy – Get one book and read it 5 times.
The Longest Silence – Thomas McGuane.
Then read.
Tarpon Quest – John Cole.Fishing Comes First – John Cole.
Trout at Ten Thousand Feet – John Bailey
Frog Call – Greg French
These books won’t instruct you too much, that’s best as a “learned” thing, but they’ll entertain, inspire, and entrance you.
Morsie
Gentlemen,
I appreciate the help. I stopped by half price books after work yesterday and searched long and hard. They didn’t have a great selection, but I did find ‘Advanced Fly-Fishing Techniques’ by Lefty Kreh. I read about half of it last night and it seems like a great place to start, especially his simple approach to casting. Also, I’m left-handed, so maybe it’s destiny.
All of this leads me to another question – where is the best/cheapest place to find these books? Anyone found any obscure online resources? I’ve found most of them on Amazon – but I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg…although that may be unavoidable.
WesNo matter what the title, topic or country of publication, if you want an out-of-print book go to http://www.abebooks.com. They have an excellent search engine. They are only a broker so you are buying books directly from sellers all over the US and UK. You’ll be amazed at how many copies of some so-called rare titles are available. It’s also set up for online buying and I have found and bought dozens of books through them. Highly recommended.
Mike
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