Fly Fishin Fool

The inimitable author of the hugely popular Crosscurrents and River Music, whom Kirkus called "one of the finest nature writers in print," comes back with a third hilarious and observant opus on the nature of knavery in the sport of fly fishing.

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

A lighthearted and lyrical new collection of observations on fly-fishing by the author of Still Life with Brook Trout features whimsical complaints about what the author believes is wrong with the world, both within and outside the fishing community. 50,000 first printing.

The basics of fly-fishing.

Covering everything from selecting specialized tackle and flies to casting strategy, this definitive guide explores how to successfully fly fish for the elusive muskie. Fly fishermen discover how to turn frustrating follows into explosive strikes--no easy task as the infamously aggressive fish is tough to fool with any kind of gear, especially a fly rod and feathered hook. Both educational and inspiring, this handbook explores introductory and advanced techniques, the typical behavior of this violent freshwater fish, seasonal strategies, specialized tackle and fly patterns, and fly fishing basics. Exclusive interviews with top fishing guides and information on the best locations for catching muskie on the fly are also included.

If you're looking to spend some time chasing one of the Atlantic's most popular sport fish, this book can help make it time well spent. Chico Fernández shares a lifetime of expertise and experiences fly fishing for redfish up and down the Atlantic Coast, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico.

Provides step-by-step instructions on tying five hundred trout flies and offers information on tying techniques, tools, and materials.

A complete guide to the techniques, gear, history and philosophy of tenkara, the Japanese method of fly-fishing.