Reading the Water: A Fly Fisher's Handbook for Finding Trout in All Types of Water (David Hughes Fishing Library) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Trout are like folks: they have a list of basic needs, they are most comfortable where those needs are met, and that's where you'll find..." (more)
Key Phrases: good bank water, eddied water, need for protection from predators, Elk Hair Caddis, The Henry's Fork, Jim Schollmeyer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A comprehensive sourcebook for finding trout in all types of water. Covers stream structure, trout foods, and effective flies for riffles, runs, pools, flats, and other water types in small creeks, average trout streams, and large trout rivers.

About the Author

Dave Hughes is the editor of Flyfishing and Tying Journal and has written more than 25 fishing books, including Essential Trout Flies (0-8117-2748-3), Handbook of Hatches (0-8117-2087-X), and Wet Flies: Tying and Fishing Soft-Hackles, Winged and Wingless Wets, and Fuzzy Nymphs (0-8117-1868-9).

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (August 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811722635
• ISBN-13: 978-0811722636
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #369,584 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!, May 15, 2000

By	KEVIN O'NEILL (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

Dave Hughes does an excellent job describing and teaching how to read water. On most rivers, you will often see flyfisherman fishing the wrong type of water or at least fishing certain types of water with the wrong technique. Dave Hughes explains the basics water types (riffles, runs, pools, dead water, etc.) in detail. He also explains the different types of aquatic insects found in each type of water and why will be found in certain types of water over others (e.g. why certain nymphs are found primarily in the riffles and others more in pools. He explains where fish will be in each type of water, what insect types will be in each type of water and what techniques work to catch the fish in each water type. It is an all-around very educational book for both the beginner and advanced flyfisher. The beginner can get a wealth of information from the book. A more experienced flyfisher will get many tips/techniques from this book and can use it as an all-around reference book to be read at least once a year. Don't pass up this book because the title seems simple. Everyone can learn a ton from this book. I highly recommend this book.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well written, very informative, April 5, 2001

By	Jonathan Tapper (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I think that the other review does a good job reviewing, but I'll take a stab at it...I am an semi-experienced fisher who needed to learn more about reading the water, and I am gaining a wealth of good information. The only drawback, and this is coming from me, is a lack of good illustrative pictures. Reading about a riffle or ledge is good, and I am learning alot, but if the book had more photos I would think it would be perfect. But I would definately recommend this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rosenbauer did it better, April 4, 2005

By	hk538 (NC) - See all my reviews

Tom Rosenbauers "Orvis Guide to Reading Trout Streams" is a much better read with more comprehensive, useful, understandable information. Dave Hughes has a few decent tying books and his "Small Streams" book, in my opinion, is his best work, though Gierach gives him a run for his money. Try Rosenbauers book first. You'll be so glad you did.