Customer Reviews

The Dry Fly and Fast Water: Fishing With the Floating Fly on American Trout Streams, Together With Some Observations on Fly Fishing in General (Heritage Series (Helena, Mont.), No. 1.)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Published 100 years ago + this title remains the defining work on fast water and cascading American rivers. Learn from the best where to position your fly and how to create an artificial hatch. Unlike the Chalk streams of England or the limestone of Pennsylvania, La Branche pioneered mountain water, cracking the code and sharing it with us the readers. Although many works have since been published on dry fly fishing these typically focus on flat water and natural presentations without "drag". This is one of the few (only) titles which deals with fast water typical of the Frying Pan or West Branch of the Ausable. If you are up to the wading challenges of such water and wonder where all the fish are or how to get them interested in your presentations this is the book for you. One of the Fly Fishing 50 from my list.

Perhaps the most important book in the history of fly fishing in America. La Branche proved that dry flies can take trout on fast water, and revolutionized fly fishing in America and the world. La Branche, unlike Theordore Gordon, believed that presentation was more important than matching the hatch. Though some might take issue with that, few will argue that presentation is not important; and so this book offers essential information on casting, presenting, and fishing different types of water.

For anyone interested in becoming a better dry-fly fisherman, I believe this is the book to start with.

This book is essential reading for all fly fishermen, particularly those living in the northeast. In addition to the text, this edition provides beautiful illustrations, both drawn and photographs, an appendix with a copious selection from La Branche's letters to fellow British fisherman G. E. M. Skues, and four pages of color plates featuring images of fly patterns developed and used by La Branche. My only complaint with the volume is the large number of spelling errors throughout, including the author's name on the cover. I would suggest this particular edition, however, for anyone especially interested in the selection from La Branche's letters, the color plates, or for anyone willing to overlook an occasional spelling errors for an absorbing and informative read.