Fly Fishing for Trout: A Guide for Beginners

Rating:
Summary: A decent book, but not great
Review: As I'm writing this, I see it's out of stock from the publisher. The reason I'm still bothering to write a review is to make you feel a little better if you're dying to find it. I noticed it got rave reviews in certain circles. I've wondered if these were friends of Talleur's, or if he simply has a good reputation. I'm an intermediate flyfisherman, and I really didn't find this book as useful as I hoped. It's a *good* book, just not a *very* good book. I found the chapter on leader construction quite useful. The book seems to assume that you'll be fishing during a hatch on classic trout waters. This is only a slight exaggeration, but let's face it - the vast majority of trout flyfishing done in this country is not during the Hendrickson hatch on a calm pool on the Beaverkill. The chapters on casting and rod/reel selection are only mediocre (although I've read better casting instruction, most equipment discussions in books seems to be mediocre.) So that leaves the fishing. And I can't help but noticing a subtle bit of arrogance in Talleur's writing, as if he seems to be saying "This is a great book." I can't put my finger on why. I would have to recommend other books for the fishing aspect, such as Rosenbauer's excellent "Prospecting for Trout" or Humphrey's slightly off-beat "On the Trout Stream". I have glanced at Kreh's "Presenting the Fly" and that may be a real winner - we'll see!

Rating:
Summary: A decent book, but not great
Review: As I'm writing this, I see it's out of stock from the publisher. The reason I'm still bothering to write a review is to make you feel a little better if you're dying to find it. I noticed it got rave reviews in certain circles. I've wondered if these were friends of Talleur's, or if he simply has a good reputation. I'm an intermediate flyfisherman, and I really didn't find this book as useful as I hoped. It's a *good* book, just not a *very* good book. I found the chapter on leader construction quite useful. The book seems to assume that you'll be fishing during a hatch on classic trout waters. This is only a slight exaggeration, but let's face it - the vast majority of trout flyfishing done in this country is not during the Hendrickson hatch on a calm pool on the Beaverkill. The chapters on casting and rod/reel selection are only mediocre (although I've read better casting instruction, most equipment discussions in books seems to be mediocre.) So that leaves the fishing. And I can't help but noticing a subtle bit of arrogance in Talleur's writing, as if he seems to be saying "This is a great book." I can't put my finger on why. I would have to recommend other books for the fishing aspect, such as Rosenbauer's excellent "Prospecting for Trout" or Humphrey's slightly off-beat "On the Trout Stream". I have glanced at Kreh's "Presenting the Fly" and that may be a real winner - we'll see!

Rating:
Summary: THE BOOK to read if you want to learn to fly fish!
Review: Twenty years ago I bought "Fly Fishing For Trout", the previous incarnation of this book (from a different publisher) and it made me a fly fisherman. I've already been through three copies of the present (expanded, revised, updated) edition, as the people I lend it to never return it.
While the book does have it's shortcomings, such as an outdated equipment section, and a slant toward Eastern (Catskill) style fishing, it is still an incredibly complete and concise overview of what you need to know to become a proficient
trout angler. I do not find Mr. Talleur's style overly arrogant. I believe that this is a tightly targeted work, aimed, as it says in the title, for beginners. Just before the beginning of every season I read it again, and I am always a better fisherman for it.
For an experienced angler, there would be better books, but if you are the person in the title, a beginner, this should be the first book you read.

Rating:
Summary: THE BOOK to read if you want to learn to fly fish!
Review: Twenty years ago I bought "Fly Fishing For Trout", the previous incarnation of this book (from a different publisher) and it made me a fly fisherman. I've already been through three copies of the present (expanded, revised, updated) edition, as the people I lend it to never return it.
While the book does have it's shortcomings, such as an outdated equipment section, and a slant toward Eastern (Catskill) style fishing, it is still an incredibly complete and concise overview of what you need to know to become a proficient
trout angler. I do not find Mr. Talleur's style overly arrogant. I believe that this is a tightly targeted work, aimed, as it says in the title, for beginners. Just before the beginning of every season I read it again, and I am always a better fisherman for it.
For an experienced angler, there would be better books, but if you are the person in the title, a beginner, this should be the first book you read.