Reel the rewards of fly fishing while being surrounded by nature and wildlife. The lure of pristine rivers coupled with the sensation of casting a net into the open make fly fishing the perfect balance of outdoor activities. The Fly Fisher is a celebration of both the community and artistry of a sport with an ever-growing global appeal. By showing a new generation of aficionados alongside an established, avid band of global fishers, we take a refreshing overview on the essence of the sport, while showing how to care for nature and connect with the environment. For both curious minds and prolific fishers, this is an updated version of a gestalten favorite. In this definitive look at contemporary fly fishing, we go through gear essentials and knot patterns, and explain the techniques needed to master this pastime. Join us as we explore new fishing spots, introduce new- comers to the sport on a beautiful scale, and exhibit an opulence of stunning new photography.
From the bestselling author of Saban, 4th and Goal, and Sowbelly comes the thrilling, untold story of the quest for the world record tarpon on a fly rod—a tale that reveals as much about Man as it does about the fish. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, something unique happened in the quiet little town on the west coast of Florida known as Homosassa. The best fly anglers in the world—Lefty Kreh, Stu Apte, Ted Williams, Tom Evans, Billy Pate and others—all gathered together to chase the same Holy Grail: The world record for the world’s most glamorous and sought-after fly rod species, the tarpon. The anglers would meet each morning for breakfast. They would compete out on the water during the day, eat dinner together at night, socialize and party. Some harder than others. The world record fell nearly every year. But records weren’t the only things that were broken. Hooks, lines, rods, reels, hearts and marriages didn’t survive, either. The egos involved made the atmosphere electric. The difficulty of the quest made it legitimate. The drugs and romantic entaglements that were swept in with the tide would finally make it all veer out of control. It was a confluence of people and place that had never happened before in the world of fishing and will never happen again. It was a collision of the top anglers and the top species of fish which would lead to smashed lives for nearly all involved, man and fish alike. In Lords of the Fly, Burke, an obsessed tarpon fly angler himself, delves into this incredible moment. He examines the growing popularity of the tarpon, an amazing fish has been around for 50 million years, can live to 80 years old and can grow to 300 pounds in weight. It is a massive, leaping, bullet train of a fish. When hooked in shallow water, it produces “immediate unreality,” as the late poet and tarpon obsessive, Richard Brautigan, once described it. Burke also chronicles the heartbreaking destruction that exists as a result—brought on by greed, environmental degradation and the shenanigans of a notorious Miami gangster—and how all of it has shaped our contemporary fishery. Filled with larger-than-life characters and vivid prose, Lords of the Fly is not only a must read for anglers of all stripes, but also for those interested in the desperate yearning of the human condition.
Now for the first time in ten years, The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide appears in a revised edition that solidifies its place as the flagship title of the Orvis brand. A best-selling, fully illustrated, and comprehensive book, this large-format volume has been required reading for every angler for nearly three decades. Included here are instructions for tackle selection; casting and presentation; flies and their specific uses; successful techniques on stream, pond, or ocean; and the select tackle, flies, and methods for pursuing every major gamefish in fresh and salt water, from bass to bonefish, tarpon to trout.
The Top Ten Guide to Fly Fishing will be a quick and easy reference to every aspect of fly fishing. Curious how to tie and use the ten best knots and rigging techniques? Or have you ever wondered what might be the top ten fly fishing destinations in the American West? Top ten things to look for when selecting a new trout rod? Saltwater rod? What are the top ten trout dry flies, top ten warm water flies . . . ? The Top Ten Guide to Fly-Fishing will be a fun and very browsable conversation starter, a lighthearted look at a serious sport presented in a small trim size. Beginners will be drawn to it for its instructional value even while more-seasoned fly-fishers will pick it up in order to quibble pleasantly with the author’s choices.
In Fly-Fishing, Christopher Schaberg ponders his lifetime pursuit of the widely mythologized art of fly-fishing. From the Michigan lakeshore where he learned to fish to casting flies in a New Orleans bayou, Schaberg sketches landscapes and fish habitats and shows how fly-fishing allows him to think about coexisting with other species. It offers Schaberg a much-needed source of humility, social isolation, connection with nature, and a reminder of environmental degradation. Rather than centering fishing on trophies, conquest, and travel, he advocates for a “small-fishing” that values catching the diminutive fish near one’s home. Introspective and personal, Fly-Fishing demonstrates how Schaberg’s obsession indelibly shapes how he understands and lives in the wider world.
Two highly respected outdoor journalists, Kirk Deeter of Field & Stream and Charlie Meyers of the Denver Post, have cracked open their notebooks and shared straight-shot advice on the sport of fly fishing, based on a range of new and old experiences—from interviews with the late Lee Wulff to travels with maverick guides in Tierra del Fuego. The mission of The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing is to demystify and un-complicate the tricks and tips that make a great trout fisher. There are no complicated physics lessons here. Rather, conceived in the “take dead aim” spirit of Harvey Penick’s classic instructional on golf, The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing offers a simple, digestible primer on the basic elements of fly fishing: the cast, presentation, reading water, and selecting flies. In the end, this collection of 240 tips is one of the most insightful, plainly spoken, and entertaining works on this sport—one that will serve both novices and experts alike in helping them reflect and hone in their approaches to fly fishing.
Modern-day fly fishing, like much in life, has become exceedingly complex, with high-tech gear, a confusing array of flies and terminal tackle, accompanied by high-priced fishing guides. This book reveals that the best way to catch trout is simply, with a rod and a fly and not much else. The wisdom in this book comes from a simpler time, when the premise was: the more you know, the less you need. It teaches the reader how to discover where the fish are, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. Then it describes the techniques needed to present a fly at that depth, make it look lifelike, and hook the fish. With chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, its authors employ both the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear to cover all the bases. Illustrated by renowned fish artist James Prosek, with inspiring photographs and stories throughout, Simple Fly Fishing reveals the secrets and the soul of this captivating sport.
Hook up with the fly-fishing guide that’s a keeper Some say successful fly fishing requires supreme athleticism, a surgeon’s delicate touch, and the serene spirit of a Zen master. But forget the hype: The updated edition of Fly Fishing for Dummies shows that all you need to get the hang of this enjoyable sport are the right tools, a disciplined technique, and a positive attitude. Whether you’re an old salt or dipping your toes in for the first time, you’ll find everything you need to learn, improve, and keep your casting sharp and fresh! Longtime fishing writer Peter Kaminsky wades right in, taking you from choosing a rod and tying flies all the way through to staying dry with the right wardrobe and cooking up a delicious catch. You’ll also find out how you can get by with just 20 flies, a half dozen casts, and three knots. And, if you want to plunge deeper into the sport, he suggests some bucket-list destination rivers and streams to keep you agreeably hooked and learning for life—proving that the father of fishing writers Izaak Walton was right when, three centuries ago, he said: “No life is so pleasant and happy as that of a well-governed angler.” Study your quarry—from rainbow trout to fashionable “glamour” fish Get the best rod, reel, and gear for success—including the smartest tech Know where to fish (land or sea) and how to read the water Follow visual examples to sharpen your casting Whatever your fly-fishing aims or skill level, the proven advice and 150+ illustrations in this friendly guide are your path to a lifetime of happy and productive trips: Don’t let it be the one that got away!
In a compilation of thirty-three essays, the author reflects on the world of angling as he shares his observations on his quarry, great fishing spots around the world, and fishing equipment.
