I'm old, and have around 150 books in my fly fishing/fishing library, but admit that the majority are fly pattern books, not literary writings that are otherwise. I own a few, Gierach, Lyons, Traver, etc. Some of the books I have now, I had wanted back when they had been published and couldn't afford, and the information I've gleaned is still of value to me, even though it can be dated. The sport has certainly progressed since the 60's & 70's when I started and books were still popular. I still prefer books to video however, but it seems that not many do now, as was said, and particularly younger folks now with instant access using cell phones. I can still see and read the words in books too, which isn't always the case on a phone!
Aside from the plethora of how to books, reading the literature of fly fishing is a pleasure I have experienced for decades. We all know the authors and titles. I now live in Catalunya, and have a group of fishing buddies who are some of the finest fly fishermen I have ever met. Sadly, these great works have not been translated into Spanish! And a French master of fly fishing of some renown has never even heard of his countryman, Guy de la Valdene! I would like to share many of these books, from Gierach to McGuane, Babb, Duncan, Lyons, Dombrowski, Traver, on and on. But no translations! It’s really a shame.
To enjoy the classics you have first to be aware of them and then be interested enough to seek them out. That will be quite a jump for a lot of people who know little of fly fishing beyond what they hear from a Millenial casting instructor or guide. If anybody is actually interested the place to go is ABE.com. I have hundreds of the classics in both trout and salmon fishing and likely a majority came via that website which connects second hand book sellers from all over the world.
Well said, John. I’m so old that there were no videos when I learned fly fishing. Books were all there were (next to an on-stream mentor, which we did not have because we were all rookies). The how-to books led to the lyrical fishing literature and pretty soon I had a small library going. My wife says, “If something happens to you, what do I do with all these books?” My answer, “Give them to the local TU chapter for raffle prizes. Books deserve to be read and passed on.“ Of course, I can’t quite do it yet, because they are, in a sense, milestones of my journey in the sport. Maybe sometime a while from now. Jon Christiansen
From Walton to Mottram, to Schwiebert, McGuane, Leeson, Chatham...classic works often get around to asking why we do what we do & how best (morally) to do it. Picking up an 11' rod, a clicker, and chucking oversized tungsten beads shouldn't negate the past, nor cast such works as antiquated and irrelevant. These classics often deal with relevant topics, such as stream etiquette, a major concern as our fisheries overpopulate with anglers.
I'm old, and have around 150 books in my fly fishing/fishing library, but admit that the majority are fly pattern books, not literary writings that are otherwise. I own a few, Gierach, Lyons, Traver, etc. Some of the books I have now, I had wanted back when they had been published and couldn't afford, and the information I've gleaned is still of value to me, even though it can be dated. The sport has certainly progressed since the 60's & 70's when I started and books were still popular. I still prefer books to video however, but it seems that not many do now, as was said, and particularly younger folks now with instant access using cell phones. I can still see and read the words in books too, which isn't always the case on a phone!
Totally agree. Anytime I find an old fishing book I pick it up (all the better if it's from a garage sale).
I wrote about similar things, and how the books connect you to your fishery better than Youtube ever could here: https://thecastabout.substack.com/p/fishing-research?r=6n14o&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Very good observation the note. I just bought the book fly fishing by Viscount Grey of Fallodon, translated into Spanish since my English is bad
Aside from the plethora of how to books, reading the literature of fly fishing is a pleasure I have experienced for decades. We all know the authors and titles. I now live in Catalunya, and have a group of fishing buddies who are some of the finest fly fishermen I have ever met. Sadly, these great works have not been translated into Spanish! And a French master of fly fishing of some renown has never even heard of his countryman, Guy de la Valdene! I would like to share many of these books, from Gierach to McGuane, Babb, Duncan, Lyons, Dombrowski, Traver, on and on. But no translations! It’s really a shame.
To enjoy the classics you have first to be aware of them and then be interested enough to seek them out. That will be quite a jump for a lot of people who know little of fly fishing beyond what they hear from a Millenial casting instructor or guide. If anybody is actually interested the place to go is ABE.com. I have hundreds of the classics in both trout and salmon fishing and likely a majority came via that website which connects second hand book sellers from all over the world.
Well said, John. I’m so old that there were no videos when I learned fly fishing. Books were all there were (next to an on-stream mentor, which we did not have because we were all rookies). The how-to books led to the lyrical fishing literature and pretty soon I had a small library going. My wife says, “If something happens to you, what do I do with all these books?” My answer, “Give them to the local TU chapter for raffle prizes. Books deserve to be read and passed on.“ Of course, I can’t quite do it yet, because they are, in a sense, milestones of my journey in the sport. Maybe sometime a while from now. Jon Christiansen
From Walton to Mottram, to Schwiebert, McGuane, Leeson, Chatham...classic works often get around to asking why we do what we do & how best (morally) to do it. Picking up an 11' rod, a clicker, and chucking oversized tungsten beads shouldn't negate the past, nor cast such works as antiquated and irrelevant. These classics often deal with relevant topics, such as stream etiquette, a major concern as our fisheries overpopulate with anglers.
Yes. We re-leased Chatham’s Dark Waters last year. This year The Angler’s Coast