How does your fly fishing library look? Along with keeping tabs on your favorite fly fishing websites, what tangible resources do you keep within arms’ reach?

At and given point in time, I have one fly fishing book that I’m working my way through. Often it gets whatever is left after a day of work and study. But it is good to have a ribbon draped across a page that takes me to the water.

Even if it is only one small shelf, there is a lot of value in a personal fly fishing library. This is the tenth installment in my fly fishing book recommendation series. If you’re looking for a couple of ideas to start or grow your library, this article and those that came before it might be a good place to start.

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

What do you get when you combine this volume and its predecessor? 100 quick fly fishing daydream sessions. This prototypical coffee table fare is not deep or revolutionary. But there are 50 pretty pictures with enough information on each destination to send you scurrying to your smartphone, checking on airfare to a place like Slovenia. “Fifty More” also relies on local voices, so the snippet of insight you do get in a couple of pages is much more legitimate than a Wikipedia entry. All in all, it is a fun little hardback.

Presenting the Fly, by Lefty Kreh

“That is what I’ve been doing wrong.” “That is how I should be approaching that situation.” “That is where I’m supposed to stand.” Reading Lefty Kreh’s book nearly 20 years ago, these were the kinds of thoughts I had as I probed his insights. The late Lefty Kreh was a gifted communicator. The result was an ability to connect with new and experienced anglers alike. Practical examples, diagrams, and descriptions are all top notch in this book. It not only informs the fly fisher who is coming to the sport cold, but it aids in refining the hand of one who has seen many seasons on the water.

Travers Corners, by Scott Waldie

I’m not a western angler. I’ve fished out west, but I haven’t spent  enough time there for the shine to wear off. Consequently, this book strikes me as romantic. More than that, it is funny, sentimental, and a solid read. The characters of this small, interconnected, town on a river are charming. Chapter after chapter, story after story I kept coming back. The two sequels are coming up quick in the rotation, and will inevitably bear mentioning in a future article if they come close to Waldie’s first installment.

Downstream, by David L. O’Hara and Matthew T. Dickerson

Truth be told, I have been holding on to this recommendation for years. Why? I’ve wanted to reach out to the authors, have a conversation, and give this book a little more of a spot in the limelight on Casting Across. The authors weave together fly fishing, Appalachia, worldview, and relationship in a way that truly resonates with me. This little book uses fly fishing as the setting, not the main character. Consequently it is a different, but refreshing read in the genre. Moreover, it captures the intangible joys of the holistic fly fishing experience in an excellent manner.

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Looking for some other fly fishing book recommendations? There are dozens listed here on Casting Across.

Have a suggestion for me? I’d love to hear about it!