The following is a source library for much of the information I have added to this site. Many of these publications remain available and are an excellent addition to your fly fishing library.

Trout and Salmon of North America

Sierra Trout Guide

by Ralph Cutter
This is a colorful and informative overview of the fish, their habitat, and techniques for bringing them to net. It begins with a detailed description of the native and non-native trout species of the Sierras, including beautiful full-color plates. Subsequent chapters include discussions of hydraulics, trout behavior, entomology, locating fish, and traveling in the backcountry. Anyone who fishes–or plans to fish in the Sierra Nevadas–should read this book from start to finish.
Amazon: Sierra Trout Guide

Fish Food

by Ralph Cutter
Ralph and Lisa Cutter provide an indepth view of the entomology within Sierran streams and lakes. Ralph has literally spent hundreds of hours underwater examining bugs and the trout’s response to bugs within stream and lake habitats. Provides great insights from a flyfishers perspective.

Amazon: Fish Food

Fly Fishing the Sierra Nevada

by Bill Sunderland
“Fly Fishing the Sierra Nevada” describes when, where and how to fish California’s premier mountain range. Detailed maps and directions chart the way to hundreds of rivers, creeks and lakes that offer some of the best fishing in the state. Toss in some history, geological background and a bit of humor, and the result is a book that will be on the must-have list of every trout angler who fishes California.
Amazon: Fly Fishing the Sierra Nevada

Fly Fishing California Stillwaters

by Bill Sunderland
The inclination of most fly-line anglers is to fish moving water. That’s a mistake, because there are bigger trout in California’s lakes and reservoirs. Fly Fishing California Stillwaters tells anglers where the best fishing can be found, offering directions, full-color maps and so much detail you’ll never again arrive at a lake wondering what fly to use or where to start your search for trout.
Amazon: Fly Fishing California Stillwaters

Fly Fishing Stillwaters for Trophy Trout

by Denny Rickards
This book offers some great tips on techniques and patterns for catching stillwater trout. Rickards calls for experimentation with speed of retrieve on full sinking lines. In terms of flies, Rickards advocates suggestive patterns rather than any sort of ‘match-the-hatch’ philosophy. He argues that stillwater trout are attracted to the life-like movement of the fly rather than a specific match.
Amazon: Fly Fishing Stillwaters for Trophy Trout

Trout Fishing the John Muir Trail

Eastern Sierra Fishing Guide for Day Hikers

by John Barbier
The guide at the back of the book tells so much in so little space–it lists distances to each lake, the type of fish there, difficulty, region of the sierras, and more. This, like so much of the book, understates its value. Mr. Barbier’s brief comments about essential gear, lures, fishing etiquette, mosquito avoidance, are invaluable.
Amazon: Eastern Sierra Fishing Guide for Day Hikers

Fly Fishing the Tahoe Region

High Sierra Fly Fishing

Yosemite Trout Fishing Guide

by Steve Beck
With maps and detailed trail instructions, the guide provides the angler who enjoys getting off the beaten track with directions to all sorts of water within the park, including rivers, creeks, and alpine lakes (there are also driving directions to areas near the few roads). In addition, the guide covers plenty of strategies and techniques to improve your chances once you get to your chosen destination.
Amazon: Yosemite Trout Fishing Guide

Hiking California’s Golden Trout Wilderness

by Suzanne Swedo
This book offers a preview of what they are likely to see and experience along their chosen route: geological features, historical sites, trees, birds, flowers, and mammals. It helps readers anticipate places where the trail is faint, where it is clear, where and when rivers and streams are special sources of delight, or where there may be obstacles to travel.
Amazon: Hiking California’s Golden Trout Wilderness

Plumas National Forest Trout Fishing Guide

by Andrew Harris
Sierran fishing guide, Andrew Harris, covers fly fishing opportunities within the Plumas National Forest of the Northern Sierra and the Feather River system. Discussion of fly patterns, lakes and streams of the region, and strategies for success in fishing this region throughout the year.
Amazon: Plumas National Forest Trout Fishing Guide

Trout Flies, the Tier’s Reference

by Dave Hughes
Featuring over 1400 color photographs of fly patterns, this work should be a standard for those specializing in trout flies. Hughes has a style that is easygoing and conversational, and his patterns will leave the beginning or intermediate enthusiast with a good selection of flies that will be effective in most situations.
Amazon: Trout Flies, the Tier’s Reference

The Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference

by Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer
Featuring over 1400 color photographs of fly patterns, this work should be a standard for those specializing in trout flies. Hughes has a style that is easygoing, and his patterns will leave the beginning or intermediate enthusiast with a good selection of flies that will be effective in most situations.
Amazon: The Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference

Barr Flies

by John Barr
John Barr is the most successful designer of commercially distributed flies in the world. His Barr Emerger is an unrivaled pattern for western mayfly situations, and the Copper John has evolved into the most popular fly of the millennium. Barr tells how he developed each fly, gives tips on when and how to fish them.
Amazon: Barr Flies

A.K. Best’s Fly Box

by A.K. Best
A revealing look into the fly box of one of North America’s most respected and experienced fly tyers, with complete, step-by-step tying instructions.
Amazon: A.K. Best’s Fly Box

A.K. Best’s Advanced Fly Tying

by A.K. Best
A. K. Best offers a thoughtful interpretation of advanced techniques for tying trout flies. A. K. discusses tools, materials, and methods in elaborate detail, and the resulting fly patterns “may, in the right hands, fool a few more trout,” according to John Gierach’s introduction.
Amazon: A.K. Best’s Advanced Fly Tying

Western Hatches

by Dave Hughes and Rick Haefele
This softcover book not only matches fly patterns to the hatch but also educates the reader to the lifecycles, anatomy, and seasonal hatches of the insects. The book is well written, and contains most of the general information that flyfishermen need to really enhance their experience.
Amazon: Western Hatches

Wet Flies

by Dave Hughes
With three decades of fishing experience and coursework in aquatic entymology, plus leading workshops across the country and writing four books on fly fishing tactics, Hughes explains subsurface insect behavior, extensively covers fishing literature and history, presents detailed instruction on materials and tying, and teaches presentation-all with numerous photos, drawings, and 24 pages of color plates.
Amazon: Wet Flies

The Soft Hackled Fly

by Sylvester Nemes
Sylvester Nemes is singlehandedly responsible for the popularity of the soft-hackled fly in American fly fishing today. The Soft-Hackled Fly, Nemes’s first book, written in 1975, was the catalyst for the resurgence. Now revised with ten new chapters on tiny flies and full-color photos, Nemes shares colorful experiences at home and abroad, the history of the soft-hackled fly, and illustrated step-by-step instructions for tying the flies.
Amazon: The Soft Hackled Fly

Mayflies, “Top to Bottom”

by Shane Stalcup
Shane Stalcup is a tier who approaches fly-tying with the heart and mind of both a scientist and an artist. For the first time, Shane has unveiled what many in the West consider a secret weapon–his systematic approach to imitating the mayfly. From the nymph to the spinner, every aspect of the mayfly’s life cycle is explored. Shane’s realistic and proven flies have been developed over 20-plus years of intense research at the vise, aquarium, and stream.
Amazon: Mayflies, “Top to Bottom”

Dynamic Nymphing

by George Daniel
Advanced tight line nymphing tactics, including Czech, Polish, French, Spanish, and American techniques Rigging and fishing dry and droppers, curly Qs, and conventional indicators Fishing the extremes: shallow water, cold weather, high water, wind Casting and technique sequences that include tuck cast, bow and arrow cast, as well as elevating and leading when tight line nymphing
Amazon: Dynamic Nymphing

Tactical Fly Fishing

by Devon Olsen
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.
Amazon: Tactical Fly Fishing

Flyfisher’s Guide to Northern California

by Seth Norman
The Flyfisher s Guide to Northern California covers all of the major fishing waters in the state. Each water is written by an expert flyfisher, who knows the water. The Fall River (Andy Burk): Hat Creek and Pit River (Dick Galland): Hot Creek (Dan Gracia): Yuba and Feather Rivers (Ralph Wood): Truckee Frank Pisciotta): East Carson (Jim Crouse): Lower Owens and East Walker (Kate and Bill Howe): Lower Sacramento (Chip O Brien): Upper Sacramento (Duane Mileman): McCloud River (Frank Holminski): and the Trinity River (Herb Burton). Each expert covers tactics and the best times to fish the water, along with recommended flies and hatch charts. 
Amazon: Flyfisher’s Guide to Northern California

Definitive Guide to Fishing Central California

by Chris Shaffer
Central California fishing will never be the same! This exhaustively researched fishing guide on Central California, spanning from Santa Barbara to San Jose, Bakersfield to Stockton and Mojave to Sonora Pass will help even the most hard-core anglers learn new tricks. The book details more than 380 lakes, rivers and streams. The full color guide has more than 500 color photos.
Amazon: Definitive Guide to Fishing Central California

Definitive Guide to Fishing Northern California

by Chris Shaffer
Complete with more than 900 color photo graphs, 768 pages of fishing informations and tips from the best guides and pros in Northern California, The Definitive Guide to Fishing Northern California is the most comprehensive fishing books ever compiled on Northern California. This full color, glossy book covers more than 525 lakes, reservoirs, rivers, ponds and streams in Northern California and tells you the truth and secrets on how to fish each and every spot.
Amazon: Definitive Guide to Fishing Northern California

California Fishing

by Tom Stienstra
Award-winning author and veteran outdoorsman Tom Stienstra gives expert advice on the best fishing in the Golden State’s lakes, rivers, streams, coasts, and reservoirs. This updated seventh edition offers profiles for each area, complete with ratings of each area’s quality and quantity of fish, and information on facilities, fees, and regulations. Complete with maps and portraits of California’s top sport fish, including suggestions for tackle and rigging, time-tested tricks, and the best places to find them, this comprehensive guide will invaluably enhance any experience.
Amazon: California Fishing

California’s Best Fly Fishing

by Chip O’Brien
Whether you want to crack the code of Northern California’s legendary wild-trout waters, learn the best floats on the Sac, or fish for steelhead, stripers, and shad on the American River, this guide is the best place to start for a successful fishing trip. With stunning photos, detailed maps and hatch charts for each river, photos and recipes of the most effective fly patterns, and insider information from local guides and outfitters, California’s Best Fly Fishing is an essential reference for the best fishing in the state.
Amazon: California’s Best Fly Fishing

Flyfisher’s Guide to California

by Greg Vinci
The biggest, most comprehensive flyfishing guide ever on California. Author Greg Vinci brings a long-time local’s point of view, with tips like access areas where vehicle numbers/parking spots are limited, campgrounds where you’ll need reservations, and historical context of the fisheries. His spectacular full-color photography fills the pages with flyfishing bliss.
Amazon: Flyfisher’s Guide to California

Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing- A Guide for Stillwaters

by Ron Newman
Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing provides serious anglers with a fresh look at their prey and their sport. The book is directed at fly fishing for insectivorous Rainbow Trout in pristine lakes. However, the information is useful to all trout anglers regardless of their choice of tackle or location. Over 30 years of research and data collections to provide you with: Aquatic entomology, including hatch graphs Bug availability by moon position Motivators and behavior patterns of rainbows Rainbow trout physical and sensory abilities, etc.
Amazon: Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing Mammoth

by Mark Heskett
It is my aim to share with the fly angler information that will make the precious little free time we have on the water a more complete experience. If there is just one piece of information here that will help yoiu as a fly fisher, I’ll feel this journey was worth the time.
Amazon: Fly Fishing Mammoth

Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams

by Mike Brown
Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams takes its readers to some of the finest, accessible streams and creeks in the Eastern Sierras. In addition to offering priceless information on fly fishing for wild trout, Mike discovered a way to incorporate personal fly fishing successes and tragedies in his writings. He also opens a few doors along the way, and shares some very personal accounts about the man that got it all started; his father. Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams is a full-color guide book that will have you laughing one minute, and thinking of good times with your own dad the next. Mike’s book will surely be appreciated by both seasoned veterans and first-timers alike. Come along and enjoy Mike’s passion for catching wild trout with a fly.
Amazon: Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams

Sierra South

by Kathy Morey and Mike White
Sierra South has inspired thousands of hikers to explore California’s Sierra Nevada. Now in its 8th edition and 140,000 copies later, the completely reorganized and updated classic guidebook showcases new trips and old favorites, as well as extended coverage. Some 84 meticulously selected trips traverse Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, John Muir Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, and many more of the stunning wilderness areas and national forests in the southern Sierra.
Amazon: Sierra South

Sight Fishing for Trout

by Landon Mayer
Landon Mayer teaches you what you need to know to spot the trout before you cast–because if you can see a trout, you are more likely to catch that trout. With detailed instructions on how to cast into tricky spots, how to present the fly whatever the conditions, and how to read the rise, he gives you the extra edge to find and catch more and larger fish. He tells you where to look for the trout, how to rig your line, how to retrieve the fish when you get a strike, and how to use the buddy system for a more productive day on the water.
Amazon: Sight Fishing for Trout

California Trout

by Jim Freeman
California Trout is a thorough and specific fishing guide. It details the most productive techniques for each of California’s many trout fishing areas and tells you everything you’ll need to know about where, when, and how to take advantage of the state’s tremendous trout fishing opportunities. This is your guide to a lifetime of successful fishing in the Golden State.
Amazon: California Trout

Fishing the Film

by Gary Borger
Of all of fly fishing’s many opportunities, fishing the film still holds the greatest attraction for the fly rodder in any water type. Fish feeding at the surface film are not necessarily eating “dry flies”; they might be feeding on emergers, nymphs, minnows swimming near the surface, mice or frogs swimming in the film, and other organisms utilizing the uppermost layer of the water. In this book, Gary Borger covers the skills necessary for successfully fishing the film, including an understanding of what fish see when feeding at the surface. There’s a thorough look at the food organisms of the film zone and Gary reveals the secret of the Universal Emerger, hatch types, rise forms, and much more.
Amazon: Fishing the Film

Trout Sense

by Jason Randall
The more you know about trout, the more fish you’ll catch. This third and final book in Jason Randall’s series explains the trout’s world for fly fishers who want to know more about their quarry. An in-depth look into the trout’s world to help anglers better understand the fish. Detailed explanations of what trout see, hear, smell, and taste. Contains 100 photos and illustrations to demonstrate aspects of trout biology.

Amazon: Trout Sense

Moving Water

by Jason Randall
The most comprehensive book on how current affects fly fishing, the good and bad of drag, which casts and techniques to use when, and much more.Nymph fishing and accounting for variations in current speed at different depths. How even small movements of water can change your fly’s movement, and what to do about it.The effects of turbulence on water temperature and oxygen content. How mayflies, stoneflies, and midges are affected by the water in which they live.Trout’s evolutionary and day-to-day responses to current. Fishing drop-offs, midstream obstructions, and sweepers.
Amazon: Moving Water

Feeding Time

by Jason Randall
Trout eat a large variety of food items and diets, and feeding behaviors change over time. The more you understand about the fish and their ecosystem, the better skilled you will be at determining what fish are eating. You can learn to adapt your fishing strategies to trout’s routines. Secrets for catching larger trout.

Amazon: Feeding Time

Strip-Set

by George Daniel
A comprehensive book on tactics for streamers, including new approaches for trout, steelhead, muskie, and bass. Features over 450 detailed photos and illustrations of casting and presenting streamers. Patterns from several of the most prominent contemporary streamer tiers, including Blane Chocklett, Kelly Galloup, Rich Strolis, Ben Furimsky, Mike Schmidt, Russ Maddin, and more. Step-by-step photos to help you master casting and presentation. Sections on reading the water, trout behavior, equipment, casting, and night fishing.

Amazon: Strip-Set

Tying Streamers

by Charlie Craven
Learn all the essential tying techniques for the top streamer patterns from master fly tier Charlie Craven. The 18 featured patterns with recipes and complete step-by-step instructions include a mix of classic and modern patterns to showcase not only fish-catching flies, but also the best range of techniques. Includes tips from other top tiers, the latest information on new materials, 50 additional top patterns and recipes, and more than 1200 color photos.

Amazon: Tying Streamers

Nymph Masters

by Jason Randall
Ever wonder what it would be like to take a fishing trip with the country’s best anglers? Author Jason Randall fishes with fly fishing giants such as George Daniel, Landon Mayer, Lefty Kreh, Ed Jaworowski, Ed Engle, Gary Borger, and Joe Humphreys and shares their top nymphing techniques, flies, and tactics with you. Randall covers everything from rigging flies, reading the water, casting, and fighting fish as he travels the country, from Pennsylvania to Alaska, in his quest to learn the methods of the masters.

Amazon: Nymph Masters

Fly Patterns for Stillwaters

by Phil Rowley
In Fly Patterns for Stillwater, Phil Rowley uncovers the riches lakes have to offer the patient angler. Phil has spent countless hours studying the food sources that make up the diet of trout; then set up home aquariums to more closely observe the movement, development, and emergence of these aquatic insects. In this book he explains the link between understanding the food base within a lake and designing effective fly patterns for these environs. He includes: Chironomids, scuds, damselflies, leeches, mayflies, caddisflies, water boatmen and backswimmers, terrestrials, beetles, forage fish, and snails. Each chapter begins with a detailed description of the particular food item outlining its life cycle, relative importance, size, coloration, and habits, then proven patterns are given, describing both materials and tying techniques.

Amazon: Tying Streamers

History of the Sierra Nevada

by Francis P Farquhar
Francis P. Farquhar (1887-1974) was a renowned mountaineer, former president of the Sierra Club, and author of several guidebooks to the Sierra Nevada. Mt. Francis Farquhar in Kings Canyon National Park is named in his honor. This book was first published in 1965 by University of California Press. I have the second edition published in 1966. The History of the Sierra Nevada covers a broad swath of California history. The book progresses from the time when Indian tribes were the only inhabitants of the Sierra, to the first hesitant, sometimes unwise ( Donner party ),forays into the Sierra by the first California immigrants; finally culminating in the creation of the Sierra Club and a discussion about utilization and recreation of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Amazon: History of the Sierra Nevada

An Island called California

by Elna Bakker
“An Island Called California” is a book by Elna Bakker, which serves as an ecological introduction to the natural communities of California. The book includes new chapters on Southern California and features striking photographs illustrating the diversity of life, climate, and geological formation. It is a classic in ecological science and is considered one of Bakker’s best-known works. The title refers to a long-held misconception that California was an island, which was propagated through various maps and literature from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Amazon: An Island called California

Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada

by Clarence King
A bona fide classic, originally published in 1872, Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada is still exciting reading. It describes the perils and pleasures experienced by Clarence King (1842–1901) while conducting the first geological survey of California in the 1860s. His language was equal to the marvels he found, and here with unfading brilliance are his accounts of scaling such mountains as Tyndall, Shasta, and Whitney. The chapters on the Yosemite Valley and surrounding High Sierras were written while he was surveying the boundaries of a newly designated national park. There are also delightful vignettes of western characters, including a Sierra artist and a family of Pike County hog farmers.

Amazon: Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada

Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park

by Allen Glazner and Greg Stock
Few places in the nation rival Yosemite National Park for vertigo-inducing cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and stunning panoramic views of granite peaks. Many of the features that visitors find most tantalizing about Yosemite have unique and compelling geologic stories–tales that continue to unfold today in vivid, often destructive ways. While visiting more than twenty-seven amazing sites, you’ll discover why many of Yosemite’s domes shed rock shells like onion layers, what happens when a volcano erupts under a glacial lake, and why rocks seem to be almost continually tumbling from the region’s cliffs. With a multitude of colorful photos and illustrations, and prose tooled for the lay reader, Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park will help you read the landscape the way a geologist does.

Amazon: Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park

The Western Angler

by Roderick Haig-Brown
The Western Angler: An Account of Pacific Salmon and Western Trout is a landmark piece of outdoor literature written by the celebrated English-Canadian conservationist and author Roderick Haig-Brown. First published in 1939, it is widely considered one of the most comprehensive and definitive guides ever written on fly fishing, biology, and angling geography in the Pacific Northwest.

Amazon: The Western Angler

Fly Patterns of Roderick Haig-Brown

by Arthur James Lingren
Fly Patterns of Roderick Haig-Brown by Arthur Lingren is a book that details the fly patterns of the famous British Columbia fly-fisher Roderick Haig-Brown and his contemporaries, including recipes, history, and photography. Originally published in 1993, it was re-released as Fly Patterns of British Columbia: The Roderick Haig-Brown Centenary Edition, featuring new photography and an expanded chapter on Haig-Brown’s influence. The book covers flies for various B.C. fish like steelhead, trout, and salmon, and is considered a key resource for understanding the region’s fly-fishing heritage.

Amazon: Fly Patterns of Roderick Haig-Brown

Secrets of Sierra Fishing

by Jack Holder and Haskell Cape
The book is illustrated and contains *Satellite Images * Websites * Color Photographs * Includes chapters on: Mammoth Lakes, June Lake Loop, Crowley; Convict Shaver Lake Loop Bridgeport; Twin Sabrina; South Isabella; Tioga Ellery; Lundy; Bass Pinecrest; Saddlebag New Melones; Tenaya Owens; Bishop Kern; Merced; Dinkey; and many more… Plus information of Campgrounds Lodging Marinas Launch Ramps.

Amazon: Secrets of Sierra Fishing

Selective Trout

by Doug Swisher and Carl Richards
Here is completely revised, expanded, and reset edition of the book that revolutionized modern fly fishing for trout–now in full color. SELECTIVE TROUT has been hailed as the most revolutionary new approach to trout-fly imitation of the twentieth century. Fly Fisherman magazine called it “the most important book on fly fishing of this decade.” Writer and angling historian Paul Schullery said in American Fly Fishing that the book “outlined many of the most important mayfly hatches in the best-known trout-fishing regions, and from that solid entomological foundation it introduced a striking and still-provocative series of flies. . . .”

Amazon: Selective Trout

Strategies for Stillwater

by David Hughes
Outlines the basics for finding fish in the quieter waters of lakes and ponds and the strategies to take them with dry flies, nymphs, wet flies and streamers. Dave Hughes fills this book with the fun, the experience, and the know-how he’s discovered fishing lakes and ponds.

Amazon: Strategies for Stillwater

Trout

by Ernest George Schweibert
Trout by Ernest Schwiebert is a classic, comprehensive, two-volume set on fly fishing, first published in 1978, that covers the history, species, techniques, and etiquette of the sport, featuring Schwiebert’s own detailed illustrations and encyclopedic knowledge. It’s considered a definitive work for both novice and experienced anglers, offering deep insights into trout behavior and water reading.

Amazon: Trout

Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams

by Mike Brown
Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams takes its readers to some of the finest, accessible streams and creeks in the Eastern Sierras. In addition to offering priceless information on fly fishing for wild trout, Mike discovered a way to incorporate personal fly fishing successes and tragedies in his writings. He also opens a few doors along the way, and shares some very personal accounts about the man that got it all started; his father. Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams is a full-color guide book that will have you laughing one minute, and thinking of good times with your own dad the next. Mike’s book will surely be appreciated by both seasoned veterans and first-timers alike. Come along and enjoy Mike’s passion for catching wild trout with a fly.

Amazon: Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams

Trout

by Charles McDermand
Charles McDermand writes of his experiences trout fishing in the Sierra, during the 1930’s and 40’s. He manages to convey the fun of trout fishing, and his love of the Sierra wilderness in a simple, natural, and spontaneous way. He and his fishing buddies, Vic and Breckenridge, come alive as do the trips they take to various back country locations. McDermand also had a sense of preserving and respecting the fish population. For example, he would release golden trout in areas where they were rare.

Amazon: Yosemite and Kings Canyon Trout

Western Mayfly Hatches

by Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes
In their first book together since their 1981 classic Western Hatches, aquatic entomologist Rick Hafele and fly fishing author Dave Hughes, combine their extensive knowledge to describe in detail the widespread and diverse western mayflies, unraveling their mysteries, revealing how to identify them, how to match them, and how to fish their imitations. Researched, written, and photographed over a period of more than twenty years, Western Mayfly Hatches covers all mayfly hatches important in the entire range of western states and provinces. Color photos reveal the important aspects of each stage of each important mayfly hatch. Scientifically accurate illustrations by artist Richard Bunse depict the details that will allow you to recognize key differences between species for both nymph and adult stages.

Amazon: Western Mayfly Hatches

Trout Flies Proven Patterns

by Gary LaFontaine
Trout Flies presents the most carefully tested series of proven fish-takers available to fly fishermen. These are the flies of legend (62 of them) – nationally acclaimed patterns, such as the Emergent Sparkle Pupa, and completely new innovations, such as the Twist Nymph, the hot stillwater imitation – but this isn’t another recipe book. It drips with fine observations on the habitat, the fish, and the techniques. This work is a top-to-bottom analysis of day-to-day situations in all types of trout water. It gives anglers the best of modern flies – and all the information they need to fool fish consistently with these exciting patterns.

Amazon: Trout Flies Proven Patterns

The Dry Fly, New Angles

by Gary LaFontaine
The author of Caddisflies and Trout Flies: Proven Patterns presents his vast knowledge about catching trout on dry flies in The Dry Fly: New Angles, an advanced resource for the serious fly-fisher. Combining years of fishing and tying experience with keen observation and lucid prose, LaFontaine organizes his information into several theories about trout behavioral patterns and fishing strategy. He starts with three basic schools of dry fly-fishing: empiricism, generalism, and naturalism. The empiricist relies on remembering which flies worked on certain rivers, regardless of the hatch; the generalist relies on presentation of a few favorite flies, also regardless of the hatch; and the naturalist tries above all to match the hatch with exact imitations. LaFontaine shows why each of these schools is flawed. If you’re tired of reaching for the same flies time after time, despite obviously different river conditions or feeding behavior, read The Dry Fly.

Amazon: The Dry Fly, New Angles

Hatches

by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi
The twentieth-anniversary edition of Hatches celebrates the enduring value of this complete guide to fishing the hatches of North American trout streams. Chosen by Trout Unlimited as one of the most important fly-fishing books of the past thrity-five years, Hatches remains the most complete book on the subject of mayflies and their identification. Hundreds of photographs depict the genera and species of the mayfly in all stages of its development, and the authors provide critical information on mayfly biology, tactics, presentation, and imitation. In fact, the Comparadun style of tying, with variations, remains one of the most important innovations of our time.

Amazon: Hatches

The Complete Book of Casting

by Rex Gerlach
New York: Winchester Press, 1975. Oversized 203pp including index Lots of photographs The Complete Book of Casting by Gerlach, Rex Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced angler, you can learn a great deal from this book. The book contains six chapters on the most highly developed form of casting, fly-casting, and a chapter apiece on spinning , spin-casting, bait casting, and surf-casting. This this book is a complete course in all forms of casting, for both anglers and tournament casters, with more than 200 rapid sequence photographs showing every step.

Amazon: The Complete Book of Casting

Spey Casting

by Simon Gawesworth
Learn the switch cast, single spey, double spey, snake roll, snap T, and devon switch, and now the skagit cast. The efficient way for anglers to catch fish–including trout, striped bass, salmon, and steelhead–on big, moving waters. No other cast is more graceful, or more fun to learn, than the spey cast. Champion spey caster Simon Gawesworth teaches the casts, some of which he developed himself, all of which he has mastered as an angler and instructor. Revised and updated to include the latest trends, this new edition has a completely new chapter on skagit casting, a remarkably easy way to lift the largest flies and lines with the fastest sinking tips from the water–this cast is ideal for tight backcasting situations.

Amazon: Spey Casting

Nymphs, a complete guide to naturals and imitations

by Ernest Schwiebert
A thorough guide to the classification and identification of the larval forms of the insects that trout eat, all across North America, with highly detailed descriptions of the insects; includes over 80 recipes for tying artificial nymphs.

Amazon: Nymphs, a complete guide to Naturals and Imitations

Northern California River Maps and Fishing Guide

by Frank Amato Publications
The ultimate book for Northern California anglers! “Northern California River Maps & Fishing Guide” features Northern California detailed maps and that’s only the beginning. Whether you’re casting from the bank or fishing from a boat, “Northern California River Maps & Fishing Guide” tells you where to be and when to be there. Learn the secrets of Northern California’s best rivers, including the “insider” information you need to experience the very best fishing Northern California has to offer. We’ve even included updated phone, email, web information for the essential services and accommodations specific to the needs of fishermen. Keep one in your car and another in your office, so you can always access the information you need, when you need it.

Amazon: Northern California River Maps & Fishing Guide

Flies, The Best One Thousand

by Randle Scott Stetzer
Although any “best of” list is subjective by nature, this collection of color plates organizes many of the most popular flies in North America by category: trout, steelhead, salmon, bass, and saltwater. Individual fly descriptions include basic information for tyers, such as hook size, thread, tail, body, wings, and hackle. Don’t expect to find esoteric local patterns for your favorite stream, but as a guide to the most widely accepted flies, this is a thorough resource.

Amazon: Flies, The Best One Thousand

Fly Tyers Nymph Manual

by Randall Kaufmann
Randall Kaufmann began tying flies at age 14 and tied commercially for 15 years, producing over 20,000 dozen flies. He has long been recognized a a premier tyer and has taught hundreds his quick and easy tying techniques. In 1975 Randall produced the AMERICAN NYMPH FLY TYING MANUAL, the forerunner to this book and the first instruction manual and categorization of nymph patters. In 1984, he co-authored LAKE FISHING WITH A FLY, acclaimed the best work on the subject. Randall has fished the work over constantly refining his angling techniques and fly patterns.

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Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout

by Bob Linsenman and Kelly Galloup
This modern, all-encompassing manual on the art of streamer fishing teaches new techniques for catching trophy-sized trout on a fly.
Streamers are the most effective of all fly patterns for the seduction of large trout, because they imitate the look and behavior of the smaller fish these trophies feed on. Sooner or later, every angler seeking the thrill of landing a trout over 20 inches―dream fish for most―will need to understand the particular art of streamer fishing.

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Popular Fly Patterns

by Terry Hellekson
Popular Fly Patterns by Terry Hellekson is a classic fly-tying book, first published in 1977, that serves as a comprehensive guide for intermediate to advanced tiers, covering the basics, materials, and techniques for a wide variety of trout flies, including dry flies, nymphs, wet flies, and streamers, with detailed instructions for specific patterns like the Royal Wolf. The book is praised for its clear instructions and illustrations, making it a valuable resource for learning to tie flies that imitate different food forms like mayflies, stoneflies, and terrestrials.

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