Bedside read. Steel/Fly

[andy-ap emerger]

I picked up Deke Meyers book "Advanced Fly Fishing guide to Steelhead." Wow! Finally...A good book to sink my teeth into. This book is BEAUTIFUL Both in authentic history, close-up of flies and fantastic landscapes. The info on how a steelhead sees its surroundings, its occular & temperment is compelling. A great read and I'm only 1/3 of the way into it. So far, it's a much needed tablet for my brain to ingest! I don't know what you guys have been reading this winter but I have been reading Dull, boring, fly fishing drivel from snotty elitist writers complaining about their native East Coast streams. Jeeeperz already!
Any one else reading a good fly book???
What are your fav's? Why? and what are your duds & why?

[T Loop]

Trout & Salmon of North America by Robert J. Behnke

This is a fantastic book by the foremost expert on our favorite fishes with beautiful illustrations by Joseph Tomelleri. Lots of great information about indigenous species and their origins.

If you like essays about fishing rather than instructional books, check out anything by John Gierach. He's a down to earth westerner and a great writer.

If you like instructional fishing videos, I found the Scientific Anglers Pacific Steelhead series with Lani Waller enjoyable and informative.

[andy-ap emerger]

My fav: Duncan's 'The River Why' ---need I say more? THAT book changed a lot about my whole approach to water. 2) "Carp on the Fly" by Berryman and Beffus---as a carp junkie, this book rocks fun & educational

My duds: 'Fly Fishing through midlife crises'---first of all, I am 33, it was a gift from my mother in law "Oh look, Andy likes to fish, he'll like this one...." Sweet but 'er no, thanks. 2.) "Fishing the NorthWest" a compilation by Glen Love (I'm certain that many of these writers are really neat people whom are decent fly anglers but geeez)....Long winded and self righteous at times.

How about yours :cool: ?

[T Loop]

Favs:
I also liked "The River Why".

Others:

1. "Trout Bum" by John Geirach is a great book.(again, anything by him is great)
2. "The Next Valley Over: An Angler's Progress" by Charles Gaines

Duds:
1.Anything by Nick Lyons(one of your whiny easterners).
2."Casting about in the Real World" by William Douglass. Boring

[garyk]

This is kind of a tough question 'cause some books are to entertain, some to instruct, some are art, and some do a little of all.

1. 'The River Why' is in a class by itself, 'nuff said.

2. If you want to understand the underlying entomology that so much of NW flyfishing depends upon, read 'Western Hatches' by Hafele and Hughes.

3. What I'm personally reading now is A. the first 14 issues of of the relatively new magazine 'NorthWest Flyfishing' (think I got that right), which someone on another board graciously sold to me. B. a guidebook to the Yellowstone River.

[Stew]

Here are a few that I've found enjoyable.
"Mist on the River an anglers quest for steelhead" by Michael Cheechio
"Found in a River...Steelhead and other Revelations" by Jeff Bright
"Dry line Steelhead and other subjects" by Bill McMillan - Out of print but a must have..I have two copies :grin:
"A River Never Sleeps" by Roderick Haig-Brown
"Greased Line Fishing" by Jock Scott
"Deschutes" by Dave Hughes

[andy-ap emerger]

Yup...As far as periodicals go, I too really like the pics & writing in 'Northwest FlyFishing.'

ps...I forgot a really instrumental book in my river quest "Steelhead Drift Fishing" by Herzog. Sure, it's writen for drifting bait & gear but I still reach for it 4 or 5 times a year to brush up & stay fresh. It is still 'the bible' on drift fishing. (by the way, I still think drift fishing w/ corkies & lead is by far the HARDEST method to steelhead with.)

[lilnorthfork]

'River Why' - Loved it so much I gave it to my brother.

'Sex, Death and Leaky Waders' is a compilation of John Gierach's writing. I'll have it back to the library in a week.

Lani Waller's 'Advanced Steelheading' Video is a rush. My 3 year old keeps begging me to watch it some more; he is no longer interested in Spot Goes to the Farm. That'll be back at the library this week. :wink:

[MarlinMark]

One that hasn't been mentioned yet. (Yes, I love David J. Duncan's...The River Why?)

An Angler's Astoria by....Oh #@$%# I can't recall right this secoend. I'd look on the shelf but, I'm at work. He's a guy who grew up in Astoria and his book is definitely about a time gone by. But, it is still a good read for flyfishers.

Mark :cheers:

[nkambae]

Just finished 'The Founding Fish' by John McPhee. Well written with excellent research and it even mentions flyfishing. I would recommend it highly.

stu

[HT Buzzo]

Deke Meyer's book was actually the first steelhead fly book I ever bought (two years ago), and it has a lot of good tying and line tips.
I've been trying to find the Haig-Brown book because I've heard so much mention of it, but a new copy is expensive: libraries and used stores don't normally have it.
I also enjoy the history in the Trey Combs book a lot, especially the evolution of winter steelhead fishing.

[moman]

I like many of the books mentioned but Tom McGuanes 1999 "The Longest Silence" is it for me. Not techncial but a collection of 33 great essays on fishing. McGuane is a true writer and not just jumping on the "fly fishin story book bandwagon". Check it out, I just ordered another copy from Amazon as a retirement gift for a friend. S

[boo]

moman, good call. McQuane also published a book with somethe same short stories that are in the "Longest Silence" in a collection of 13 fishing related stories in a book called
"Live Water". A must have if you're a McGuane fan.

[toonboater]

When it comes to reading about flyfishing, particularly in the NW (Vancouver Island), nothing beats the naratives by Rodney Haige Brown. I suggest you start with "A River Never Sleeps". They are so compelling, I made it a point to fish his homewaters.....which was as rewarding as his writings.

[andy-ap emerger]

I recently saw a review in a trade publication for a book called "Into the Backing"
Has anyone read that yet? Any good? Why?
Thx in advance
Andy"ap emerger"

[TillamookChinook]

"The Anglers Astoria" is by Dave Hughes. It is a nice read. Hughes is a good, local author and fisherman, and he has written the definitive book on aquatic insects.

"The River Why" is the most intriguing fishing book I have read. The image of the naked nymph diving out of the tree to swim after her steelhead sticks with me.

I received McGuane's "The Longest Silence" for Christmas and enjoyed it. A series of chapters about fishing (usually with guides) all over the world. On the one hand, it is hard to relate. On the other, he is a great writer, and I can't wait for the chance, someday to flyfish for bonefish or tarpon.

I got to fish for tarpon about 30 years ago from a dugout canoe in the jungles of Guatemala. We had a couple of rigs that might have been stout enough, and one trout spinning setup with 6 lb. line. Of course, the trout rig got most of the hits: strike snap, strike snap. We finally got one tarpon up to the canoe, maybe 60 lbs.(?), but we never got it out of the water.

[rob allen]

The best book about steelhead fly fishing ever written is " a river seen right" by Micheal Baughman
We who are often called elietist scum don't think the point of steelhead fly fishing is to do whatever it takes to hook a steelhead while using a fly rod. That mentality is in my opinion is a bunch of BS. There are methods commonly Used and called fly fishing that are not fly fishing at all and should not appear in books about steelhead fly fishing. One of them is throwing rocks at steelhead then using a sink tip and a couple cannon ball split shot and fishing for a single fish until you can pull the hook into the fishes mouth.

Steelhead "fly fishing" is changing and much for the worse. ethics are already out the windo on most streams because people are too stinking selfish and now even the method os being blended away so that it is more like gear fishing than fly fishing.. All because people are more concerned with catching fish than becoming skilled and learning how to do it properly.
There used to be something noble about steelhead fly fishing and fly fishermen. Not anymore.. Now they are a bunch of selfish undisiplined egotistical idiots.. What we really need is about 10 years of **** poor steelhead runs so that thoes not dedicated to the " sport" quit it altogether. if catching fish is all thats important to you then you have no business being on the river rod in hand.

[Mad Mikey]

Wow, Rob.

What can I say??? I really have enjoyed many of your posts on various sites. You are obviously informed and articulate but MAN, what is up with the negative vibes???
I know what you are referring to, ie. Jim Teeny and the Clack videos of him tossing rocks to relocate fish so he could walk the fly right to them.
On one hand it seems highly unethical disturbing fish like that but it also proves how utterly STUPID steelhead are and all those fish WERE hooked in the mouth, legal and fair.
The man has a talent that none of us will ever be able to top. You ought to check out his IFGA records, they speak for themselves.
Perhaps you are jealous? I am. I fished River Mill Dam many years ago and had the Estacada side all to myself in early June. Along comes a small dude with a fly rod who set up at the fast slot below the deadline. He proceeded to hook and land two Springers with a sink tip line and a small orange fly, both fish were fair hooked and I had to step back from the ledge so he could land them. To this day I have NEVER seen any gear or bait guys come close to this feat at that spot.
He is either loved or hated but results speak for themselves.
To a point I agree with you about the evolution of steelhead FF'ing, lotsa guys out there throwing all kinds of stuff with fly rods. Would it make you feel better if they were standing in the same spot throwing the same stuff with a driftrod???
There are those among us who actually think we are doing something "special" when we flycast for andromodous fish, truth is we are just using gear that makes it a little more difficult, albeit more fun to hook up with these magnificant beasts. Flyfishing for steelhead and salmon in essence IS "lure" fishing whether we like it or not.
In your world a person steps into the drift with his sweet handcrafted rod, begins to cast with his home made fly, tied only with natural fibers of course, the fish takes the fly on top in a beautiful head to tail rise. He lands it with a custom made wooden handled net from organically farmed rose wood and netting woven from the underbelly hair of a yak in heat. This obviously makes him a better person than the guy down below nymphing with a plastic egg pattern.
What gives? You obviously have a lot of knowledge and experience to contribute, why do you continue with the slams?
Just my observations my friend, take some time and relax. We are all on the same side.

[ 02-02-2003, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: Mad Mikey ]

[Stew]

Whew!!!!! Holy cow Rob chill out a little will ya? One line about a book and the rest a tirade about fly fishers? :shocked:

[rob allen]

Mike

Just because a fish is hooked in the mouth does not mean it was caught legally and fair.
at least here in Washington a fish must volentarily take the fly in it's mouth. basically attempt to eat it.. Teeny's methods are HIGHLY suspect and he has in fact been cited by wish and game officers for his methods..

I feel strongly about steelhead fly fishing and yes I would feel MUCH better about the same person standing there with a gear rod using the same thing. What I object to is the dumbing down of the sport. I believe what NormanMcleans father taught him that " any man who didn't know how to catch a fish should be allowed to disgrace a fish by catching it"
It bothers me that a growing number of "fly fishermen" are concerned with nothing more than putting another notch in their belt. That is the basest and crudest behavior that can be exhibited by an angler. I think it's bad for the sport and for the fish to have people like that out there. Steelhead fly fishing has a heritige of being a gentlemans sport i believe it should remain that way. It is however not that way anymore because of peoples ( I gotta get mine) attitudes. That makes our rivers so unpleasant so as to drive gentlemen away. Thus all that is left are a bunch of greedy selfish people who will do anything to catch a fish and I think that is extremely sad.. Every day I wake up and I thank God for the new regulations on the North Umpqua. Not becauseIi hate indicator fishermen, not because i catch more fish now not because i get to fish the runs I want but because the river is a better place without them. Everyone I know who has fished that river before and after agrees. The Deschutes is my favorite steelhead river in the world, it always has been. I no longer fish it because of all the selfish greedy "fly fishermen". Most of them swinging by the way..
I don't object to peoples methods I object to peoples attitudes Lets face it people don't fish globugs or A leeches because they like fishng them they do it because they catch more fish and thats the only reason they do it.. That attitude is destructive to the sport...

[Gizmo Man]

Rob: you have many good points, but expressing anger in your posts reduces their effectiveness.

Would sugguest you find ways to express your thoughts without turning off readers. Those reading your posts will do so with more care and diligence if they where toned down.

Giz...

[boo]

Rob,
I'm glad you stopped fishing the Deschutes...if I ran into your attitude while exchanging greetings along the river it'd ruin part of my day.
Boo

[Stew]

Rob you just don't get it do you? I fish leeches and glo-bugs! Tie them myself! What iswrong with fishing these? I don't fish strike indicators...another thing you apparently disdain but who cares if someone does? If you are trying to emulate Bill McMillan, someone we both admire, you're misrepresenting him and the sport of flyfishing. I don't go for numbers when fly fishing! If I want to fill up the freezer I have the fall salmon season to do that. I fly fish because it's my favorite type of fishing. You've dwindled it down to some sort of legalistic thing.
I thought this was a thread about good fishing books? :rolleyes:

[Stew]

In Robs defense it's a fact that Jim Teeny does indeed "rock" his fish. Whether this is unethical or not is open to debate. It's not something I would do but it may be okay for others.
Anyway back to books....... :smile:

[ 02-03-2003, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: Shane S ]

[andy-ap emerger]

Good Grief Rob,
I politely asked everyone what their favorite FFishing/ bed-side read is. Who in the H#(* gives you the "right" to rudely throw your unhappiness into the simple question of "Hey, this is what I'm reading, what are you reading?" I am appalled. Also, what gives you the "Appointed gift" to determine that all of us are simply fishing for MEAT? You don't know jack! Face it! Want to try a fishery nobody's doing? Give me a call & I'll put you into 30lb carp on the fly, only IF you're a decent caster, if not, I'll find out, you wont catch fish, you can row!
Man...Some peoples parents.
graemlins/icon_argue.gif

[Mad Mikey]

The cool thing about the "rocking" fish issue is that it destroys so many myths about these fish.
Bank anglers can be very freaky about you drifting "over" where they are casting when you are going by in a boat. Some anglers think that throwing a spinner or a diving plug through a run will ruin it for FF'ing. It's all horse-puckey. An old high school buddy of mine would bang his #4 vibrax off the the back of outboard jetpumps as they screamed by the launch on the lower "D" and hooked fish in the backwash, they are not the smartest of critters.
I wouldn't rock fish myself but I kind of get a kick out of seeing somebody supposedly "spook" some fish and then turn around and catch them.

Rob,

I run into "ungentlemanly conduct" on ALL the rivers I fish, including the Deschutes. This is a phenomena that spans the gamut of fishing styles. I am also fairly competitive when I have to be to get a good drift but if there is room and someone shows up later or is even drifting by with a sad look on their face I will yell at them to pull in and share the water.
The best place to promote "gentlemanly conduct" on the river is ON the river, you can't get discouraged by a few yayhoos now and then, just keep at it.
The "I gotta get mine" attitudes are very prevalent with SOME steelhead FF'ers, I think it is mainly a sign of the times, more people+less fish+less fishing areas=competiton and "ungentlemanly conduct".
We are NOT fishing in the same era that many of these authors did, they probably would have written a different type of book if they were in the present.
I totally DIG reading the stories and adventures of steelhead FF'er's from the past. I too wish it was like that now but reality is, there are very few places and times anymore where we can experience what these authors may well have taken for granted back then.
As far as fishing glo-bugs and leeches are concerned, I HATE glo-bugging but will do it if I want to FF and that is the only option besides grabbing a jig and bobber, oh!, wait a minute, that might be the SAME thing!!!
:tongue: :grin:
I LOVE swinging leeches on the "D", when the sun is out especially.
Cripes! Are you going to stick with your floating line all day because it is "gentlemanly" and MAYBE catch a fish OR up your odds with a sink-tip and leech? I'd be willing to bet that folks like Roderick H.B. would jump at the chance to fish the stuff we do now.
I also understand human nature, guys who write about fishing NEVER totally tell the story like it went down, past or present authors included, face it, they are fishermen!!!
The favorite chapter in your one of your treasured books may describe a picture perfect morning, graceful casts and chrome fish rising to the fly but if we saw the whole truth it might just be comical.
I too ,would like to be that guy tossing sweet casts into a fish filled run in a Norman Rockwell poster but heh heh...
He convieniently leaves out the fight with his old lady the night before, getting up pre-dawn with a hangover and racing around trying to get his stuff together stressing out about the guys that might hole-hop him etc.
It happens now, it happened then, he just wrote about the good stuff and left the rest out, just like any good writer should.......
Anyways Rob, lighten up. You have some good points in your dialogue but seem like a very stressed out person, you need to fish more.
Although we butt heads a bit you are welcome in my boat, I bet we have a lot more in common than we think. :cheers:

[Gizmo Man]

WE ARE RETURNING YOU TO THE PROGRAM YOU WHERE WATCHING BEFORE BEING INTURRUPTED.

Lets return to the topic at hand.

I do not want Teeny's problem in our discussion bb. That was something that happened 15 years ago or more and it was settled in court.

Andy:
I would like to try the carp on the fly thing...How about sending me an email and let me know how to get started.. I hear it's a blast.

Giz...The Moderator....

[Mad Mikey]

>>>Lets return to the topic at hand.<<<

Oops, you are right Giz. I second all the posts on the books by RHB, "River Why" is a must. I gotta say I'm suprised no one mentioned any of Steve Raymonds writings. "Trout the size of footballs" is a great read and is "Seasons of the Trout"


>>>I would like to try the carp on the fly thing...How about sending me an email and let me know how to get started.. I hear it's a blast.<<<

Carp on the fly!!! FUN, much tougher than you think. Giz, drop me a line and I'll give you some good info if you decide to go to NE OR.


:cheers:

[andy-ap emerger]

Giz & gang...NE Oregon? Oh no no no.
I'm doing a string of Carp on the Fly clinics this winter. (they're all FREE! :grin: The next one is Saturday Feb 22 @ Stewarts FlyShop in Wood Village 11-2pm
I'll do a posting soon. Check the Oregonian and the Sportsman show too!
BTW...Since I started this thread, I can now officially request it stopped.

pps...anyone read "into the backing yet?"
I still haven't rec'vd an answer yet graemlins/dork.gif

[Whiskey Dick]

"Teeny's methods are HIGHLY suspect and he has in fact been cited by wish and game officers for his methods.." roballen jim teeny was cited while filming a fishing video in washington, he was cited for fishing above the deadline, the citation was droped after washington fish and game realised there officer got it wrong. Think about this, he was filming a video, the proof was on the TAPE!!!!.
We all make mistakes and fish and game officers are human too, i have seen them make a mistake or two here in Oregon but when they realised it they put it right. This does not stop stories from doing the rounds but i know for a fact this storey is not true. tight lines,brian