Lakes are one of the most challenging opportunities available to today's fly fisher. Stillwaters offer a long active season with numerous hatches and presentation challenges. Fish grow big and fat and many fishers find this appeal hard to resist. But the transfer from rivers and streams is often difficult, especially if a prolonged trial-and-error approach is adopted. This book examines the stillwater fly fisher's kit bag, expectations, and offers an introduction to the diverse stillwater food sources. The Orvis Guide to Stillwater Trout Fishing explains everything the aspiring stillwater fly fisher needs to be successful and build a sound foundation that will last through a lifetime plying stillwaters.
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.
Idaho's clear flowing rivers are world famous for fly fishing, but finding that elusive perfect spot to land a trophy in the vast wilderness requires a lot of time and knowledge. Fortunately, writer, angler and conservationist Chris Hunt has traveled to some of the state's most idyllic areas to find the best fishing the Gem State has to offer. Adventurous anglers can follow his directions off the beaten path to enjoy excellent scenery and even better fishing. Brimming with expert tips and seasonal strategies for each location, this handy guide will find its place in a dry pocket for every successful excursion.
How to Gain a Positively Unfair Advantage on the River - Even if You're Unsure what the MANY Variations of "Euro Nymphing" Actually Involve... INCLUDING Over 2 hours of supporting video material (designed to be worth the price of the book on its own) Hands up who knows what Euro nymphing is? It's incredibly popular and causes many online arguments - yet most anglers show CLEAR GAPS in their skills and knowledge. So if you want to go beyond bobbers and split shot, you'll need to dodge an overwhelming tide of BS online covering "Tight Line Nymphing" and European competition methods. While there are good books available, certain tactics are left out (keeping a number of methods known only to a handful of top anglers) and it is difficult to build a strategy for choosing and using each of the different rigs, methods and flies. The aim of this book is to arm you with the most complete range of tactics possible and give you the confidence to tackle new waters and different conditions. It does this by clearly explaining WHY to choose - as well as HOW to use - each rig & technique. The methods include: Czech nymphing (both the little-known LONG-line variant & the famous SHORT-line tactics) Polish nymphing Ladder Leader Nymphing (so you can quickly alter the spacing between your droppers, which means you're more likely to actually benefit from those "fine-tuning" tweaks) Classic French Nymphing The family of modern "Nymphe au Fil", Pêche a la Sempé and Spanish Nymphing French Leader with Dry Fly French Leader with Streamer Duo and Trio (Euro-style Hopper/Dropper with "everything off the water" up to the dry) Slovakian nymphing ...and even a little "suspension" nymphing so that the typical "Tight-line Euro tactics" don't have it all their own way All this is underpinned by the understanding of a freshwater biologist (and nymph fishing addict) which reveals important secrets of predators and prey behaviour in our rivers - and how to hotwire that system with our artificial flies. Stories from around the world bring the tactics to life - as well as making the take-home messages much more memorable (so you'll actually use them in your own fishing) PLUS: Full color photos of actual flies gifted during major international competition events which let you peek inside boxes of multiple World Championship competitors (including captains and coaches) Multiple Detailed Spotlight Features on: Sighters/indicators ★ Reading the Water ★ Stealth ★ Casting ★ Feeding Biology of Fish ★ Trade Secret Leader Recipes and Chemical Treatments★ A Simplified Set of Fly Patterns ★ Magic Bullet Method (Selecting Rigs, Flies & Fishing Locations) Method in my Madness Carefully layering the information means that there are "quick win" tips you can use right away - while bigger ideas build up and become absorbed naturally over the course of the book. I believe this gives you the best chance of greatly improving your ability to catch fish, to adapt to situations - and perhaps "re-boot" your love of fly fishing in the process! Who SHOULDN'T buy this? This is a practical, paperback manual - not an ornament. Don't buy this book if informal, conversational language or Sans Serif font aren't your things. You can check out the design/layout in Amazon's "Look Inside" preview feature before you purchase.
A look at the development of the sport over the past six centuries. Once limited to trout and salmon, today fly-fishing techniques are used to catch every fish species from minnows to marlin in rivers, lakes and oceans from the Amazon to the Arctic. From the many thousands of fly patterns developed over the centuries, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies focuses on fifty iconic flies chosen to represent the evolution not only of fishing flies and fly tying but also the sport itself. Filled with illustrations and photographs of the flies (the fifty are just the starting point—more than 200 flies are mentioned or shown in the book), as well as profiles of key characters, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies charts the growth and diversification of this fascinating sport from the fifteenth century to the present day and its spread from Britain, Europe and Japan to North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and now to every country in the world. The evolution of fly-fishing tackle—rods, reels, lines and hooks—is also covered in a series of essays spread throughout the book. Praise for The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies “A delightful ramble along the stream of fishing history.” —Star Tribune “This glorious book of lures will get you itching for a new toy, a new boat, a new rod—anything to experience the relaxation of this old hobby.” —Foreword Reviews
Devin Olsen explains how the techniques he has used to become a repeat medalist in fly fishing competitions around the world can be adapted to everyday fly fishing situations. He covers strategies, tactics, and flies for rivers, small streams, and still waters, allowing anyone to fish more successfully by applying the approaches taken by competitive anglers.
“His presentation of the what, how, when, where and why of the sport is eloquent in the clarity and precision of his writing. He provides a wealth of practical information, embellished with personal observations, and quotes from past masters.” -Richard Robinson, Master professional golf instructor, author, and fisherman “This book is an excellent resource for beginning anglers, and a very entertaining read even for those with decades of experience on the water.” -Justin Witt, International outfitter, guide, contributor to “The Flyfish Journal” ________________________________________________________________________ With fifty years of fly-fishing experience, Al Simpson has written an engaging book about fly-fishing for trout. It is packed with information helpful to anglers of all skill levels. Insights are frequently presented through a streamside experience. Topics include getting started, equipment, casting, trout feeding behavior, flies, reading the water, presentation, and seasons. He also discusses controversial topics like etiquette, stocking, and restoration of native trout. The work is richly enhanced with over 200 color photos and line drawings. It joins the short list of must-reads for trout anglers. The author began fly-fishing in 1962. He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and has fished the mid-Atlantic’s trout streams extensively. Summers have always included fishing in the northern Rockies. Now retired from the University of Virginia where he practiced and taught cardiology, he and wife Ginny spend their summers in Montana. They frequently travel to trout venues about the globe. A lifetime member of Trout Unlimited, he served as vice president on Virginia’s state council. He works part-time for Orvis as a fly-fishing retail specialist, and teaches fly-fishing. Local sports clubs frequently invite him to speak and conduct fly-fishing clinics. An avid blogger on all things related to fly- fishing for trout, he has an international following.
Game Changer flies have completely revolutionized how fly anglers approach pressured and wary fish around the world. Tied on a series of interconnecting spines, these flies can be drawn through the water with a serpentine swimming action or made to glide and jacknife in the water with hard strips--movements that predatory fish find irresistible. In this book, from one of the most creative and visionary minds in fly tying and fly fishing, author Blane Chocklett shares his tips and techniques for getting maximum movement out of these flies, both at the vise and on the water. In addition to covering popular patterns such as the Finesse Changer and Feather Game Changer, Chocklett traces the evolution of his search for the ultimate pattern, and takes readers along his journey of discovery, by beginning with his Gummy Minnow and ending the book with perhaps the most effective fly ever designed for apex predators, the Hybrid Changer. - Step-by-step tying instructions for 20 flies - Chapter covering hooks, shanks, brushes, and other critical materials - Fishing techniques, including tips on retrieves and casting large flies - Close-ups of Chocklett's favorite patterns - Detailed information on building brushes
