Customer Reviews

Fly Fishing for Salmon and Steelhead of the Great Lakes

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

 

 

I bought this book to improve my luck on the St. Joe River. I loved it , cover to cover. Flies for the fish, not for display or to store in another flybox. This is a guide to practical, easily tied fish getters and how to present them. I felt included as I read about the rivers I have fished here in the midwest. The author gives a clear, common sense explanation covering tackle from rods to tippets. I enjoyed his stories which put me back on streams I had fished long ago. I'm hooked!

I have had this book for a very long time and have read it a few times over the years and still learn something new by reading it. I would agree that the "chuck and duck" method used with a fly rod is not respected by many fly fishing purest especially outside of Michigan. That said, the technique when used properly in deep runs (not sight fishing on beds) can be extremely effective if not the best method of choice many times pending river conditions etc. I have been able to use Ken's techniques and catch many Steelhead and Browns with flies in the mouth with hard takes. If you live in Michigan and want to learn an excellent technique for Steelhead (Trout) fishing, I would highly recommend Ken's book to increase your success. Best of luck - Ray

I picked up this book to learn the techniques of Chuck-n-Duck fishing. It explains the rigging, structure, casting, etc... It's a great help to get started, but it doesn't make up for time on the water.

It covers Great Lakes steelhead and salmon fishing and not the NW. There's a big difference between the two mindsets and techniques.

I would definately buy it again.
Tight lines.

Superb book. While this book does not have the nice glossy pictures that Steelhead Dreams does, its content is much better in my opinion. I especially liked the fact that Filkins presents all fly fishing methods applicable to Great Lakes salmonoid fishing without prejudice. He covers a wide swath of Great Lakes streams and I learned a great deal about some of the variations that exist in the fishery. A must read for the Great Lakes salmon & steelhead fisherman.

This seemed like a mediocre reference to me. I returned it a day after recieving it in the mail. Perhaps it is more appropriate for the more eastern Great Lakes. Minnesota streams were mentioned on only two pages.

Very informative book on fly fishing for salmon and trout in the Great Lakes and why and how it is different from salmon fishing in the northwest. Full of useful information and innovative techniques. If you want to catch more salmon or steelhead in the Great Lakes' tributaries, this is must reading. For more info on Great Lakes slamon fishing go to www.TimesFlyN.com.

The book covers a few methods and gets the concept across on the relationship between behavior and water temp; there is a great misunderstanding of the chuck and duck method. Almost borders on Filkins and his buddies being in denial on what they are really doing. I rub elbows with some of the best steelheaders in the midwest, and none......I repeat none of them hook the huge numbers and lose so many fish like these guys do. Even in the golden days of great lakes salmon and steelheading.

The chuck-and-duck method is a fancy way to SNAG fish, and kid ones self that they drifted a nymph.....that (in his explanation), drops down in front of a fish near its face, and scares the fish into a reflexive bite.....in essence, (and in his own justification) comes out of nowwhere and yells "BOO" once it hits bottom and tightens under pressure. Hogwash.

This gives me the same ill feeling as when we watched Jim "if I spot em I got em" Teeny teach methods all based on sight-fishing and placing a swung fly constantly and repeatedly in front of fish at close range............WANKER! The steelhead doesnt get aggravated into striking by repetition like a largemouth on the beds does.

That method is abused and not properly fished by 95% of the people doing it. Michigan anglers have been taught this method, and just don't get it when hooks are piercing into the outside of the mouth or face.

Dragging and scraping bottom with a slinky and a long leader lines fish. Period. shorten your leaders, and learn how to properly bottom bounce. It takes YEARS to perfect.