Looking for some recommendations for good fly fishing/fishing history reading. Anyone recommend anything that’s been published recently? Just finished Joe Cornwall’s Fly Fishing Warm Water Rivers, which I really liked, and Dr. Larson’s incredible History of the Fish Hook in America. Now I’m out of new books.
So what do you recommend? And if you post, let me know where I can get it!
Tight lines,
Deke
Fly Fishing the Solitude?Montana by Trapper Badovinac, published in 2006 by Riverbend Publishing. ISBN 1-931832-67-6. This book is filled with great stories about the rivers of Montana, fantastic pictures and some good fly pattern photos and recipes. When you are done with it on the nightstand, place it out on the coffee table for your fly fishing friends.
Larry 
The Sunfishes (A Fly Fishing Journey of Discovery) by Jack Ellis. Published by Abenaki Publishers, Inc. Any bookstore should be able to get it or order it for you. You could also probably find it online.
If you are looking for a truly historic look at fly fishing and camping in the wilds of the state of New York and cruising the shores of the east coast, there is a great book I would suggest.
?The Owl Creek Letters and Other Correspondence? was published by Baker & Scribner in New York. This is a collection of letters written by W. C. Prime or William Cowper back in 1847 and 1848. The printer was S.W. Benedict of NY.
Alibris Books has a copy available, you can find them at:
http://www.alibris.com
Just type in the full title of the book and it will pop up for you. In fact, it looks like the books they offer are reprints of the original book. My copy was printed in 1848 and originally purchased by Henry F. Handy on July 3, 1849. Obviously the newly printed books remove the problem of reading a book that is almost 160 years old.
The author?s real name is William Cowper Prime. In the original book he was simply listed as W. Mr. Handy had written in C. Prime after the W. Now I see that the reprinted book Alibris is selling is calling him William Cowper.
Enjoy the read, I know I did.
Larry
Sweet! Just ordered Fly Fishing the Solitude from Amazon, good price on it too. Will see if The Sunfishes (A Fly Fishing Journey of Discovery) is available from one of the local fly shops, I like to give them business if I can.
Also looking into buying Owl Creek Letters, Amazon shows a brand new printing of it (2007). Does anyone know if this is the full text from the original edition, or a condensed version?
I am gung ho for fishing history, was blown away by the history of the barbless hook chapter in the fish hook history book.
Anyone interested in doing an “on-line” book club? We could choose a book, get as many people as possible to read it, and then discuss in a thread here…
What a neat place this is…
Tight Lines,
Deke
Dekezucker,
I would would recommend “At the Rivers Edge” by Jerry Kustich, formerly a bamboo rod builder for Winston Rod Co. now with his new company Sweet Grass.
From his publishers web site regarding “At The Rivers Edge”: “Three decades ago the author embarked upon a journey that would lead to a lifetime of fishing. Along the way he found so much more. These fly fishing stories are different. With a touch of heart, soul, and humor, they may even change the way you look at the sport.”
He and his brother Rick have authored several books, but this one is the only one I’ve read and can recommend.
Tom
Great book – highly recommended for any bluegill fan.
I’m reading
Catskill Rivers, Birthplace of American Fly Fishing
by Austin M. Francis
very interesting
Tom (and all),
A Wisp in the Wind is Jerry Kustich’s second, and very good,
I’d also recommend Bill Harms and Tom Whittle’s new book Split and Glued by Vince Marinaro.
Kat
I’m rereading a favorite, A Handbook of North Country Trout Flies by Roger Fogg, there are a few copies available at http://www.abebooks.com. Also, Modern Trout Fly Dressing by Roger Woolley (the 1939 edition) is a great read and a treasure trove of historical information, is also available at Abe Books.
REE
There are three books currently on my nightstand.
The Bible - NIV
To Know a River: A Haig-Brown Reader. I read this book a couple of years ago and am re-reading it.
Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die.
“Man of Steel and Velvet” by Aubrey Andelin…“A man’s most important responsibility in life is to be the guide, protector and provider for his wife and children.”
A Passion for Steelhead; I was shamed into reading this by the author Dec Hogan. I had made a comment on another steelhead book as being the best and was asked by Dec what I thought of his book. I felt I had to read the book to be fair with my comments. So far it has been worth the shame I expericenced to get me to read it and I recommend it to anyone interested in fishing for steelhead.
what book is on my night stand is “I am america and so can you” by steven colbert
I’m re=reading Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Just finished a great read called “900 Miles from Nowhere” ? a collection of letters pioneers sent back to their families from the Great Plains. Intriguing. Okay, they’re not fishing books but they’re good books. JGW
The Deer
Hunter’s Book Cassic Hunting Stories
I got a book in with a box full of stuff at Our annual flyfishing dinner/auction. I was gonna throw it away. Its called Fishing with John. By Edith Iglauer 1992 Harbor publishing. The author lives in Garden Bay BC .
I finally had nothing to read one night and tackled it. What a wonderful book.
It is the story of a commercial trollerboat skipper who operates a 45ft west coast trawler Off the BC coast from Queen Charlotte Islands to Vancouver. Its filled with tales of his exploits and musings. Really a good read.
To think I almost tossed it out.
1491 by C G Mann, not FF’ing but very interesting.
“Trout Eyes” by Tapply. It is a good read.
Ed
zipping my fly by rich tosches. funny stuff