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Fly fishing and fly tying books are a passion. Here you will find book reviews of books I have read covering fly fishing for trout, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, steelhead, and many other freshwater and saltwater species. You will also find fly tying books covering the same areas. There are also books on aquatic entomology, history of fly fishing and fly tying, hydrology, and great prose having fly fishing as its main theme. There is far more to fly fishing than casting a line, and there should be far more to a fly fishing guide service web site than just costs and services offered.
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
This is a top notch filming of the 2004 Speyorama held at the San Francisco,
CA, Golden Gate Casting Club. Speyorama has become an annual weekend of Spey
casting demonstrations, learning, and friendship involving the best-known
Spey casters from around the world. Twenty Spey casting experts from seven
countries as diverse as the USA, Japan, Scotland, and Norway gathered to
teach and cast two handed rods and Spey lines from the world’s best makers.
Here you will learn to Spey cast traditional long lines, Skagit heads, and
Scandinavian shooting heads. In addition, you will see the best perform
traditional Spey casts such as the single and double Spey casts, Skagit
casting including the Perry Poke, Underhanded casting using Scandinavian
heads, and the modern Pacific Northwest compact casting style using shooting
heads such as the Rio Windcutter series of lines. If you want to know what
these different styles of casting that you have read about are, here is the
place to find out. If you want to see how to perform a Scandinavian
underhand cast or find out what the heck a Perry Poke is, this is the place
to do so. Don’t believe anyone can cast a two-handed rod 300 feet? Watch
Steve Rajeff as he shows you how it is done. This is the finest collection
of all around Spey casting information available today. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
Tying Classic Wet Flies reviewed by Bruce E. Harang Wet
flies are as much a part of the history of fly-fishing as is bamboo rods and
silk lines. And like the later two, wet flies are finally realizing a
renewed popularity. One of the problems in tying these wonderful and
productive flies is getting good instruction. The author has gone a long way
in providing this much-needed information. Don Bastian grew up tying and
fishing these old patterns. He has continued to tie them and has become so
proficient at it that he was selected to tie about 200 wet flies for the
book “Forgotten Flies”. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
Joan Wulff is without a doubt one of the finest fly casters in the history
of the fly-fishing and tournament casting. This lady has also spent a
lifetime developing ways to teach others how to become excellent fly
casters. This DVD is the result of all of her abilities both as a caster and
as an instructor. Everyone from absolute beginner to advanced fly caster
will find techniques, ideas, methods, and instruction to make you a fly
caster or a much better fly caster. In this sport there is absolutely no way
to be as successful as you wish to be, without first being a proficient fly
caster. There is no magic fly, fly line, rod, reel, or destination that can
overcome a fly fisher’s inability to cast and present the fly well. This
well produced fly-casting course will provide you with all of the tools you
need to reach this necessary and desirable fly-casting proficiency. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
This production is one of those hidden gems that if utilized will allow you
to become a much more successful trout fisherman no matter where you fish.
Gary LaFontaine, and Dick Sharon, share fishing tactics and ideas that will
allow you to become proficient at presenting a fly to trout. This DVD is the
collection of fly-fishing strategies television shows without commercial
interruption. But they have been produced such that they flow together to
create one well done instructional DVD. The use of on-screen graphics to
overlay tactics on actual fishing locations as well as animated
illustrations make this a great learning tool. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
If there is one
universal feature of fishermen it is their preoccupation with the weather.
Fishermen believe in weather that is good for fishing, weather that is an
excuse for not catching, and weather for not fishing. There have been
volumes written on the weather as it impacts fishing as well as poems and
songs about fishing weather. If you fish, you think about the weather. This
little book presents an interesting historical view of the weather of the
Pacific Northwest. It isn’t directly about fishing, but it is directly about
weather, and every fisherman loves to discuss the weather. The book compares
the weather observations of a number of the members of the Lewis & Clark
party during their time between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean
with that of modern day weather observations in the same area. It also
explains why these weather patterns exist in layman’s terms. Overall, it
turns out the weather has not changed much in the past 200 years. It is
still “weather disagreeable”. But it does provide for some of the finest
fishing in the world. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
The authors present a
complete course on how to smoke salmon and steelhead. The book starts with a
concise introduction providing the reader with the necessary background to
successfully start smoking salmon and steelhead; including the best fish to
smoke, preparing and proportioning brines, optimizing flavor, and the
importance of knowing your smoker. The second chapter details twenty-seven
wet brines including notes on variations and cooking tips. The third chapter
details fourteen dry brines which again include notes on variations and
cooking tips. These chapters are followed by chapters on Types of Smoking
Woods, Preparation Prior to Smoking, and Canning Smoked Salmon & Steelhead.
The next chapter is a collection of twelve of the authors’ favorite recipes
ranging from Angel Hair Pasta with Salmon & Spinach to Sushi Rolls, and
Cheesy Quiche. There follows a Troubleshooting chapter to help you over the
common problems of smoking this type of oily fish. The book concludes with a
well-designed index of all the brines and recipes. In addition, the book is
beautifully illustrated with color photographs of wonderfully appetizing
food. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
Mike Lawson grew up on
the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and has fished
it for over 60 years. Needless to say, he has a unique background and
insight into fishing spring creeks. Best of all is that he is willing to
share a lifetime of experience and observations with all who are willing to
spend the time to read this amazing book. The book comprises eleven chapters
and two appendices as well as a superb bibliography, and index. The first
three chapters are devoted to explaining what Spring Creeks are, what trout
you will find there, and generally how to match the hatch respectively.
Chapters four through seven go into detail on matching Mayflies, Caddisflies,
Midges and Craneflies, Terrestrials in that order. These chapters prove some
wonderful observations and insights to matching these hatches on spring
creeks and techniques for successfully presenting these types of imitative
flies. Chapter eight on Unmatching the Hatch is one of the most interesting.
The author explains how attractors of various types can be deadly on Spring
Creek trout at certain times and how to decide when these types of flies and
the times to use them occur. The next two chapters detail methods of
presentation and strategies for fishing spring creeks successfully. Once
again the author’s personal observations and notes are truly exquisite. The
final chapter is one directed to our responsibilities to be good stewards of
the fish and the waters they live in. He also discusses the important
subject of public access and good manners on stream. While many will pass
this chapter over or only glance at it, it is one that every fisherman
should read very carefully. We can all benefit in our fishing by exhibiting
and receiving a bit more in the way of good fishing etiquette. The appendix
on fly-fishing equipment suitable for spring creek fishing is of a general
nature instead of a list of particular makes and models. This means that the
changes in technology will not outdate the information in a few years. Well
thought out and presented information. The appendix of flies for fishing
spring creeks is a master’s list of patterns with photographs and recipes to
put every angler in the game. Each pattern also has notes by the author on
when, where, and how to fish the pattern. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
This is a very interesting book about how
to protect against injury while fly fishing and how to recover from injuries
if they occur written by a MD and a Physical Therapist who have studied fly
fishing related injuries. The book is broken down into eight chapters and a
final word as well as an excellent glossary and an index. The first three
chapters discuss Fishing and Pain, Pain and Its Origins, and the Basic
Concepts of Self-Treatment. While these discussions are important, and are a
must read, they are a bit of a slow read. But stay the course because the
next five chapters are not only much easier to read they are extremely
interesting and helpful to the fly fisherman. Chapter four discusses the
shoulder that allows a layperson to understand why, where, and how the
various injuries to your shoulder happen. Chapter five discusses the elbow
and the differences between tennis elbow and golf elbow. Chapter six looks
at the wrist and how it is affected by the repetition of casting all day.
Chapter seven discusses low back pain in relation to fly-fishing, casting,
and stalking fish. Chapter eight teaches the reader about injuries and pain
to knees and ankles. All of the chapters have great color illustrations and
photos to help explain the joints and connecting tissue involved as well as
illustrate exercises to help prevent injury as well as to recover from
injury. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang This book may be of some interest to antique rod collectors. It is a self edited, designed, and laid-out book of the author’s personal rod collection as well as those of a few friends. As such it is a prime example of why owning a word processor and a Kodak Instamatic camera does not make a publisher. For folks that must have color pictures to visualize well this book may be of some help even though a large percentage of the pictures are of extremely poor quality. Some of the text contains interesting tidbits. If you are antique cane rod crazy you may feel you have to have a copy of this book. For most readers it is better forgotten. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang Mike Mercer has an exceptionally well-developed talent to design successful trout flies by blending natural and synthetic materials in novel manner. This book contains twelve of the most famous of these fly designs. The author is probably best known for his “poxyback” method of tying nymphs, but his talents go far beyond this single style. Patterns like the Alaska Lemming and Sac Fry for instance reveal a unique ability to realize new potentials for many common fly-tying products. The book also has the standard Foreword, Introduction, Index and an Afterward and a chapter on Reading the Water. There is also included a number of blank pages for personal tying notes. Refreshingly, here is a fly tyer that is willing to discuss the importance of presentation before the importance of fly pattern. For fly tyers that want to learn how to make epoxy coated wing cases, use glass beads for extended bodies, and sculpt fish and mammal bodies out of yarn and plastic this is the book you have been waiting for. Following the format of other fly tying books in this Masters on the Fly series each pattern starts with the author explaining the pattern and how it came about. There is a photograph of an actual finished fly, a photograph of the materials needed to tie the fly including a call-out box with the pattern recipe, and finally a step by step photographic sequence with text showing exactly how to tie each pattern. As you have guessed this is an extremely visual book. In fact, even the covers are designed to be very visual. The book is bound in hard glossy covers with a heavy-duty spiral binding that allows the book to be opened flat on the tying table. The binding is constructed to last though many years of use while also allowing the book to be shelved and viewed like a regularly bound book. The photographs, by Ted Fauceglia, are of very good quality, especially the tying sequence photos. The book design, layout, and editing are excellent. The large close-up photographs of the finished flies are particularly welcome. This is a book fly-tyers will definitely want to add to their libraries. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
reviewed by Bruce E. Harang This is a book of the author’s trout fly patterns comprised mostly, if not completely, of synthetic materials. Each pattern is accompanied by information about its history of the development and evolution, thought provoking information that documents the history of each pattern in a way that will allow future generations to understand why the patterns were tied in a particular manner. The book contains the standard Foreword, Introduction and Index as well as an Afterword. But what makes it so exciting are the eight chapters of patterns preceded by a chapter on Materials and Hooks. This first chapter allows the author tells you what he finds best for tying his flies and important considerations concerning the selection of materials. The eight pattern chapters have a similar format for each pattern. The chapter starts with the author explaining the pattern and how it came about. There is a photograph of an actual finished fly, a photograph of the materials needed to tie the fly including a call-out box with the pattern recipe, and finally a step by step photographic sequence with text showing exactly how to tie each pattern. As you have guessed this is an extremely visual book. In fact, even the covers are designed to be very visual. The book is bound in hard glossy covers with a heavy-duty spiral binding that allows the book to be opened flat on the tying table. The binding is constructed to last though many years of use while also allowing the book to be shelved and viewed like a regularly bound book. The photographs, by Ted Fauceglia, are of very good quality, especially the tying sequence photos. The book design, layout, and editing are excellent. This new series of fly tying books published under the label “Masters on the Fly” is going to raise the bar on what fly tying instructional books should be. A pattern book that fly-tyers will want to add to their library both for the patterns and for the insight in how to develop fly patterns. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
Philadelphia on the Fly reviewed by Bruce E. Harang This little book is a rare gem in fly-fishing literature. The subtitle Tales of an Urban Angler gives a hint about the contents but it doesn’t let on about the quality of the writing or the joy waiting for the reader. The author tells of his return to fly fishing in the environs of the city of Philadelphia and the beauty, fun, and excitement of fly-fishing that cannot be dimmed by city confines. The writing is to the written word what Beethoven’s Concerto #9 is to music, a magnificent blend of tranquility, excitement, and drama. You will not learn anything particularly important about the mechanics of fly-fishing but you will learn exceedingly important lessons about why each of us actually goes a-fishing. The exquisite prose is perfectly complimented by the color illustrations and color photographs. The layout is well done making the book an easy, fun, and exciting read. If you fly-fish you need to read and re-read this little book, simply wonderful. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
Fishbugs reviewed by Bruce E. Harang
This is simply an
incredible book. The author has turned the photography of insects into
portraiture. The author’s results in this book are as monumental as the
insight Yousuf Karsh brought to human portraiture. This is not a fly
fisherman’s bug book, a pattern book, or even a match the hatch book, though
it does have images of insects important to fly fishermen and illustrative
fly pattern images. Instead it is volume of character studies of insects
important to fly fishermen. That said, the images convey so much detail that
fly tyers will undoubtedly find a wealth of ideas for new and improved
patterns. © 2005 Bruce E Harang
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Phone: 360-903-4693 |
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Lewis & Clark’s Northwest Journey
