“What is the best fly fishing book?”

That question is just as absurd as someone asking what the best stream or best fly might be. In literature, as in fishing, there is a lot of room for subjectivity. So fishing literature? There are as many opinions as there are titles.

Still, some books have had staying power. A title that sticks around in the community’s collective consciousness for 10, 25, or 50 years might be worth reading. A book like that might have some dated elements, but they are overshadowed by the quality of the content.

In this entry in the Casting Across book review list, I am offering up books published in 1960, 1999, 2004,  and 2020. They are all a part of my library, and I have enjoyed each one. (In fact, I have enjoyed one of them so much I have sought out multiple editions! I am sure it is easy to figure out which that may be…) They might not be the best fly fishing book, but they are all worth readying.

As I’ve done for all of the entries in my “Fly Fishing Books” series, I’ve spread the selections over three rough categories:

• Guide (regional, site specific)
• Technical (methods, locations, fly tying)
• Literature (novels, biographies, history)

Check out one kind of each book, why I suggest it, and a bonus read below. And follow the links in the headings to get a copy for yourself.

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Guide: Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas, by Aaron Reed

Generally speaking, guidebooks focus on the intricacies of regional trout fishing. It makes sense: rivers have different regulations, populations, and access rights. The reality is that locating quality warm water angling opportunities is not that dissimilar. In this book, the area around Austin, Texas is explored in great depth. Reed’s work ought to be replicated around the country. It raises awareness of the diverse fisheries that people can probe with the fly rod, while also communicating the local flavors and charms.

Technical: Fly-Fishing the Flats, by Barry  & Cathy Beck

I bought this book the year it came out: 1999. Before I had ever cast an 8-weight, let alone a fly into the ocean, I was learning about the fish, flies, and formulas needed for the salt. Over twenty years later, and this book is still the finest primer for saltwater fly fishing that I’ve ever encountered. It is perfect for beginners, but can also serve as a reference point for a veteran who wants to try something new. The Becks’ photos, illustrations, and descriptions make this the essential textbook for Salt 101.

Literature: Trout Madness, by Robert Traver

21 stories comprise this classic of fly fishing literature. You’ve not had to fish in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to appreciate the tales of people, places, and events. So fine is the writer, you’ve not had to fly fish to appreciate the book. Robert Traver was the pen name of the fascinating John D. Voelker. He was a man who loved fly fishing, but it was not the activity that defined his life. Consequently, his fly fishing stories are about much more. And they endure for this very reason.

Bonus: Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die, by Chris Santella

This squat book is a simple premise executed excellently. It is effectively a sales pitch for 50 angling locations that don’t need it. But it is fun. We’ve all heard about all of these places, but here we hear about them in a concise manner from an authoritative voice. Pick up this book to flip through. Use it as a launching point. Let the pages fall, drop a finger in, and go down the rabbit hole of investigating a fishery you probably won’t ever see before you die… but day dreaming doesn’t hurt.

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Want some more fly fishing book recommendations?

• Fly Fishing Books, I : Fly Fishing the Mid-Atlantic, Spring Creek Strategies, Joe and Me, Limestone Legends
• Fly Fishing Books, II : Fly-Fishing Guide to the Upper Delaware River, In the Ring of the Rise, Brook Trout, The Curtis Creek Manifesto
• Fly Fishing Books, III : Guide to Maryland Trout Fishing, Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass, Fishing a Highland Stream, About Trout
• Fly Fishing Books, IV : Flyfisher’s Guide to New England, The Fly Fisher’s Book of Lists, Spring Creek, & CVTU’s Favorite Flies
• Fly Fishing Books, V: Flyfisher’s Guide to the New England Coast, Fishing the Midge, The Wonderful World of Trout, River’s Edge
• Fly Fishing Books, VI: Fly Fishing Virginia, Strip-Set, The Complete Angler, Rivers of Restoration
• Fly Fishing Books, VII: Keystone Fly Fishing, Night Fishing For Trout, Catskill Rivers, Tight Lines