The Dry Fly: New Angles

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Summary: An enormously valuable book destined to become a CLASSIC!
Review: If you have every stood in a stream and puzzled what fly to choose ... than read The Dry Fly.

If you have ever thought why a fly that worked so well yesterday, or last week or last year now draws a blank ... read The Dry Fly.

This is a wonderfully entertaining book as well as an exciting learning experience. The Dry Fly, New Angles provides a blueprint for success and is a book that you will read more than once ... not only for the insight and information Gary LaFontaine shares with us but for his entertaining and irreverent style. This masterpiece is destined to become a CLASSIC and a book that will be referenced for years to come!

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Summary: How and why trout respond to dry flies.
Review: The angler can learn more about trout, more about flies, and more about everyday fishing situations in The Dry Fly than in any other fly fishing book. The angler will also have more fun reading this book than they have previously had with a fly fishing book.

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Summary: The first fly fishing book to advance a Theory of Attraction
Review: The Dry Fly has been listed by Robert Berls in his update of the greatest fly fishing books as an overwhelming classic -- one of those works that changes the course of fly fishing. My opinion? Total agreement. This is the first book to come up with a Theory of Imitation, but other authors have at least hinted at the need for one. The Dry Fly is the only book to even think about a Theory of Attraction. The author tells you how to pick the right fly for any situation. Imitation and attraction -- the Ying and Yang of fly fishing. As a result, this book is an incredible tool for catching more trout. It gives a fly fishermen more than random experiences -- it gives him a complete system for dry fly fishing. It is a fascinating read for the thinking angler. --Patrick Ellison

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Summary: About fly fishing, not just dry fly fishing
Review: Yes, the focus of the book is the dry fly, but Gary swirls around this focal point with so much general trout information and thought provoking analysis that it's almost a misnomer. To explain why the color of a dry fly might be important, he explains why it might be less so on a nymph. He describes why a fish might feed and why it might simply strike. He describes why a fish might be selective, and why it might be willing to try anything.

Yes, I think Caddisflies was a good book, but I really have more respect for LaFontaine as a writer, fisherman, and scientist after reading this. This is a more widereaching effort. He gives credit where credit is due, but this is no simple rehash of basic techniques. There is real innovation and some new theory here. When Gary et al invent a new fly, it's not just the same old design with a new color or material. It a new design that attempts to accomplish something unique. When he says the trout react in a certain way to it, it's because he watched them underwater scubadiving.

This is not a book full of little anecdotes about fishing in exotic locales and noble battles with mighty fish (although there are some anecdotes.) If you want a book based on research and experimentation resulting in innovative ideas, this is the one.

Rating:
Summary: About fly fishing, not just dry fly fishing
Review: Yes, the focus of the book is the dry fly, but Gary swirls around this focal point with so much general trout information and thought provoking analysis that it's almost a misnomer. To explain why the color of a dry fly might be important, he explains why it might be less so on a nymph. He describes why a fish might feed and why it might simply strike. He describes why a fish might be selective, and why it might be willing to try anything.

Yes, I think Caddisflies was a good book, but I really have more respect for LaFontaine as a writer, fisherman, and scientist after reading this. This is a more widereaching effort. He gives credit where credit is due, but this is no simple rehash of basic techniques. There is real innovation and some new theory here. When Gary et al invent a new fly, it's not just the same old design with a new color or material. It a new design that attempts to accomplish something unique. When he says the trout react in a certain way to it, it's because he watched them underwater scubadiving.

This is not a book full of little anecdotes about fishing in exotic locales and noble battles with mighty fish (although there are some anecdotes.) If you want a book based on research and experimentation resulting in innovative ideas, this is the one.