Catskill Rivers is the story of the "birthplace of the American fly fishing." Readers will discover this birthplace in such hallowed trout streams as the Beaverkill, the Willowemoc, the Neversink, the Delaware, the Esopus, and the Schoharie. While originally published in 1983, Catskill Rivers remains the definitive study of these fabled waters and the remarkable people who created the American fly-fishing tradition. Painstakingly researched and imaginatively told, readers will also get an unforgettable survey of the early river industries, including rafting, sawmills, tanneries, and wood-acid factories, as well as at the early days on these classic trout waters, where George LaBranche, in Sparse Gray Hackle's words, "adapted the dry fly to fast water and started an angling revolution." Along with numerous historical glimpses into the many sociological forces surrounding the Catskill Rivers, readers will see many early, famous flyfishers take to these waters, including "Uncle Thad" Norris, Seth Green, Theodore Gordon, Herman Christian, Roy Steenrod, Sparse Gray Hackle, and many more. This historically accurate and beautifully written glance back into the early days of the Catskill Rivers will have both fishermen and nonfishermen wanting even more. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for fishermen. Our books for anglers include titles that focus on fly fishing, bait fishing, fly-casting, spin casting, deep sea fishing, and surf fishing. Our books offer both practical advice on tackle, techniques, knots, and more, as well as lyrical prose on fishing for bass, trout, salmon, crappie, baitfish, catfish, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The Beaverkill, the Willowemoc, the Neversink, the Delaware, the Esopus, the Schoharie--these hallowed trout streams have been hailed for generations as "the birthplace of American fly fishing." Here is their story. Painstakingly researched and beautifully told, Catskill Rivers will likely remain the definitive study of these fabled waters and the remarkable people who created the American fly-fishing tradition.
There is an unforgettable look at the early river industries--rafting, sawmills, tanneries, wood-acid factories--and at the early days on these classic trout waters, where George LaBranche, in Sparse Grey Hackle's words, "adapted the dry fly to fast water and started an angling revolution." Here are the great anglers, fly tyers, rod makers, entomologists, and publicists--"Uncle Thad" Norris, Seth Green, Theodore Gordon, Herman Christian, Roy Steenrod, Rube Cross, Hiram Leonard, Ed Payne, Louis Rhead, Edward R. Hewitt, Sparse Grey Hackle,
Preston Jennings, Art Flick, Harry Darbee, Walt Dette, and a host of others. There are revealing discussions of the sociological forces that led Americans into fly fishing; the origins and customs of private stream clubs; the rivalries between owners and poachers; the controversies over imported "German" brown trout; the cult of dry-fly purists; the evolution of hatchery practices, stream improvements, and fisheries regulation; as well as the future prospects for these lovely waters. There are also penetrating historical and physical profiles of the six principal Catskill rivers, their insect life, trout distributions, stocking practices, access, angling pressures, fishing conditions, and successful angling techniques.
CatskillRivers is a poignant journey through the annals of American angling, from its origins to the present, laced with anecdotes and stories, graced with over one hundred ten photographs and nine beautifully illustrated river maps by John Manikowski. It is a book all fishermen will treasure.