Why would I read it if…
- I could watch the movie?
- The information is 20 years old?
- I could get the same information from YouTube?
- There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other books like it?
These questions are legitimate. But if you’ve ever read a good book, you know how the written word has the ability to not only mitigate but transcend all of those concerns.
Today I am sharing four fly fishing books. It would be reasonable to ask one of the above questions of each suggestion. Irrespective of that, I maintain that they are worth picking up and reading.
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.
Trout Unlimited Guide to Pennsylvania Limestone Streams, A. Joseph Armstrong
This book is unique in that it is comprehensive. Armstrong outlines every limestone stream in the region that one can reasonably reach. That means there are paragraphs on streams that don’t hold trout, only flow for 100 yards, or are nearly completely within private property. Honestly, as someone who enjoys the minutiae of fly fishing, it has been a great book to page through. Of more interest to the Mid Atlantic angler, the book explores the famous limestone streams of the Commonwealth and their nearby, less known neighbors. As always, guidebooks with a decade-plus of age need to be read with that lapse in time in mind. But it is well worth picking up.
Casting with Lefty Kreh
, Lefty Kreh
You’re not going to get a hands-on fly casting lesson with the late Lefty Kreh. But in this book you are getting nearly 450 pages of detailed instructions. How can that compare with a YouTube video? Virtually every page has multiple images breaking down the individual components of the cast being described. For the angler looking to diagnose issues with accuracy or distance, or the person who wants to hone a particular casting skill, this book is perhaps the finest physical resource available.
The Incompleat Angler
, Jim Enger
There are countless books in this genre. The intersection of biography with short story is probably the prototypical fly fishing book. Consider that every issue of every fly fishing magazine ever published contains at least one such account, and you can see how the pages pile up. Enger’s The Incompleat Angler stands out. It is a volume that has been suggested by numerous readers and listeners to Casting Across. In this book you’ll go across the world, seeing and observing along with the author. His ability to bring you is what makes the volume special.
A River Runs Through It and Other Stories
, Norman Maclean
Ever hear of it? Of course you have. But have you read it? Don’t be ashamed if you haven’t. If you haven’t, make reading this short novel a priority. As is often the case, the book is different than the film. Moreover, in this particular edition there are a number of other short stories from Maclean. They aren’t about fly fishing, but they are similar in tone. This is a little paperback worth picking up for a weekend away. It is also a book that every fly fisher should own.
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!