Has anyone read the book Fishing Small Flies by Ed Engle? Did a search on the forum and didn’t get any matches. I’d like to get some insight into this type of fishing and in the fly-fishing world books can be hit and miss.
So, I’m ready to take the plunge into fishing the 18’s and smaller, and I do have his Tying Small Flies book, which is pretty good for those new to tying that sort of thing.
What I’m really wondering though, is if the other book, Fishing Small Flies, is really worth it? I dont have a bookstore nearby with the book in stock or I’d just go thumb through it. Amazon only has 1 review, so I’d like to hear more about it.
If anyone has read that book AND his Flyfishing the Tailwaters book, then Im curious to know if the Fishing Small Flies book is necessary since he has a chapter on fishing midges in the former book. In other words, is the Fly Fishing the Tailwaters Midge Fishing chapter basically a synopsis of the Fishing Small Flies book?
And while I’m at it…any reccommendations on other midge fishing technique books? or midge fly tying books?
Not sure where this midge fever of mine is coming from but I sure am curious about it!
Living in Denver, I have meet Ed a few times and fished with him (well, on the same stretch of the same river at the same time). I have read a couple of his books, but not the one you reference. I like the ones I’ve read and his talks are great.
Have you looked at Micropatterns, Tying and Fishing the Small Fly by Darrel Martin? I have a copy of it and love it. I use it as a reference for tying small stuff as well as making my own furled leaders.
I got my copy off Amazon for less than $10.00. It’s used, but in great condition.
Once you go small you will never go back. About all I fish are 18’s, 20’s, and 22’s. I will use a size 16 prince for my top fly on a nymph rig but I am really fishing the little dropper. I catch some on the prince but mostly it is just there for weight. I guess what I am getting at is the 16 just seems gigantic compared to the flys I am catching the majority of my fish on. I have thumbed through the book you are refering to and it seems pretty good.
I have read both of them and I do my fishing in the little streams of NE IA. I also use 18s and smaller. I found the Ed’s book very instructive. It gives you tips and advice that are worthy to try. I would recomend it to you. Fishing the small fly is a great book.
Malevo
KPH and JC - thanks, the Micropatterns book looks interesting. I will look into it.
Tyflier - great info, thank you. Interesting idea about using the straight-eye hooks, as I didnt think about it getting in the way of the hook gape and affecting the hook-rate.
F4T I know exactly what you mean about 16’s looking huge. I’ve been tying up some size 20’s and when i went to put them in my box in the row above my 16’s I was shocked at how big they looked! Funny thing, last time I was showing my dad (a non-fisher) some of the flies I tied, mostly size 14 and 16, he remarked ‘you catch fish on those small hooks?’.
Malevo, thanks for the recommendation. I think I’m going to go ahead and purchase the book.
After I’ve read through it, I will post my comments about it.
FlyFishingTexas,
I entered a fly swap and tied too many so if you are interested PM me an address and I will send you some of my #32 micro midges (I’ll even throw in some #28 & #30’s. Nymphing I use a #26 WD40 and it has been working well here.
Dang Salmon Fly…I ordered the book from amazon before I saw your link…no biggie though, I bought another book with it to get free shipping so I think I came out better than the auction w/shipping.
I have both of Ed Engles books Tying Small Flies and Fishing Small Flies. They not only are full of wonderfull patterns but also great information. AND they are an interesting read! I highly reccomend both books
