Steelhead Fly Fishing [Paperback]

Trey Combs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1999

This full and brilliant book is the classic on fly fishing for steelhead trout. It is the culmination of a lifetime of study by the world's finest writer on the species. Steelhead Fly Fishing offers practical advice on all aspects of the sport. There are exceptional chapters on the fish itself, the tackle and techniques used to pursue it under diverse circumstances, and such great steelhead rivers as the Deschutes, the Dean, the North Umpqua, the Bulkley, the Rogue, and the Babine. Also included are memorable profiles of the modern masters and the fly patterns they developed. The color insert, black-and-white photographs, and fine line drawings by Loren D. Smith help make this a must for all steelhead flyfishers. (81/2 X 11, 512 pages, color photos, b&w photos, illustrations, tables)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

America's Northwestern rivers have given modern angling the steelhead, a migratory trout big enough to command its own rules, and Combs's book is a tribute sufficient to the fish. The flash of hard-won angling experience illuminates every page as knowing writing combines with glorious photography from 15 river systems of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Combs's authority is augmented by that of 16 local contributors to form a tributary system of steelheading techniques and fly patterns. The large format--a practicality for flytiers overlooked in many volumes--and elegant page design showcase both text and color plates. The core of this regional angling book is the distilled, strange charm of fly-fishing in a uniquely North American style.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Fly fishing has an immense literature devoted not only to tackle and technique but to individuals, specific waters, and particular fish. After over 25 years of fly fishing for steelhead, Combs is keenly aware that without this long tradition, his experience would be "little more than exercise without recreation, a sport without mystique." With considerable research, the help of many great anglers, plus striking photos and illustrations, he combines history, conservation, science, and fly tying with delightful anecdotes of anglers from Zane Grey to Lani Waller. This big book has sections on tackle and technique, great rivers of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, traditional and new steelhead fly patterns, and extensive profiles of 16 contemporary anglers. This should be the book in its field for many years and belongs in public libraries throughout the Western states and provinces.
- Roland Person, Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155821903X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558219038
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literally, the bible on the subject, August 26, 2001

By 

Matt Tunno (Missoula, MT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steelhead Fly Fishing (Paperback)

I'm not interested in selling this product to or for anyone, and I rarely write reviews, but after reading this book I felt like I had to say something about it. The essence of fly fishing for steelhead CANNOT be encapsulated into a bound volume...the subtle nuances of the sport far exceed the explanatory capacity of the written word. That said, Trey Combs loves this sport like few others I've encountered, and writes with a technical proficiency that is almost completely missing in this genre. The historical information alone makes this volume worth spending twenty dollars of your discretionary income, and if you tie flies, you really NEED to have this book. There is a separate chapter on nearly every relevant steelhead river in the west (save the smaller, out of the way streams, which we all thank Trey for not including). The author has fished them all extensively, knows the locals, understands the ethics of the sport, and writes VERY well. The book is a smooth pictoral not only of fly fishing in western rivers but of the new conservationist mentality that simply must be adopted if we want our kids to ever have a shot at catching a wild steelhead. This one tops out at over five hundred pages, and serves not only as entertainment but as an angling period-piece as well as a streamside and tying-benchside reference. Any one who fly fishes for Pacific Steelhead should own this. On a side-note, those of you who fish for great lakes steelhead should really read this as well. The good doctor Combs calls your fish "land-locked" steelhead and doesn't really comment on the fishery aside from that. Having spent a decent amount of time fly fishing the Salmon River in upstate New York, I can only comment that Trey's technique suggestions are beneficial for anyone fishing anywhere for any strain of steelhead. Although I currently concentrate my efforts on Pacific fish due to geographic convenience, I would love the opportunity to get back to NY and fish the Ontario tributaries again.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read..., March 8, 2007

By 

T. Chambers (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Steelhead Fly Fishing (Paperback)

Trey does a good job of covering most aspects of how fly fishing for steelhead "feels." From the best anglers to the best water to the general methods/gear he gives a good overview of steelhead fishing in general. I enjoy sitting down and reading his observations. If you are looking for a tecnical "how to" book, this probably isn't the one (get Dec Hogan's "Passion for Steelhead").

5.0 out of 5 stars Exelent seller, June 1, 2009

By 

Torleif Person (Norway) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Steelhead Fly Fishing (Hardcover)

Exelent from start to finish! The perfect seller to buy from! I will recomend you for everyone.