"Trout Bum" is a fresh, contemporary look at fly fishing, and the way of life that grows out of a passion for it. The people, the places, and the accoutrements that surround the sport make a fishing trip more than a set of tactics and techniques. John Gierach, a serious fisherman with a wry sense of humor, show us just how much more with his fishing stories and a unique look at the fly-fishing lifestyle.
"Trout Bum" is really about why people fish as much as it is about how they fish, and it is ultimately about enduring values and about living in a harmony with our environment. Few books have had the impact on an entire generation that "Trout Bum" has had on the fly-fishing world. The wit, warmth, and the easy familiarity that John Gierach brings to us in "Trout Bum" is as fresh and engaging now was when it was first published twenty-five years ago. There's no telling how many anglers have quit their jobs and headed west after reading the first edition of this classic collection of fly-fishing essays.

Flowing from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks, Montana, where it joins the Jefferson and the Gallatin to form the mighty Missouri, the Madison River is one of the most famous, but also one of the most complicated, trout rivers in North America. This river can have different insect hatches every fifty yards, and ranges from a glassy, spring-fed stream to a tumbling torrent filled with rapids. Its complex variety of waters and habitat defies conventional fly-fishing techniques. In Fly Fishing the Madison, fly shop owner, guide, and noted author Craig Mathews demystifies the river, offering valuable insights and advice to first-time visitors and veterans alike. Covering the various sections of the river, fishing conditions likely to confront you in all four seasons, various insect hatches-including the famous salmon fly-along with a list proven fly patterns and tying recipes for sixteen of the best, Fly Fishing the Madison will prove invaluable to all fly anglers planning to fish this spectacular waterway. (6 x 9, 160 pages, b&w photos, maps, charts)

"Trout Flies" presents the most carefully tested and proven series of fish-takers now available to the fly fisherman. There are the flies of legend -- sixty-two of them: nationally acclaimed patterns such as the Emergent Sparkle Pupa, along with effective innovations such as the Twist Nymph. But this is not just another recipe book. It is crammed with fine and important observations on the habitat, the fish, and the techniques of fishing all of the flies; for without such knowledge, even the best flies are doomed to produce limited results.

"Trout Flies" is a top-to-bottom analysis of day-to-day situations in all types of trout water. It gives anglers the best of modern flies -- all proven patterns -- and all the expert information fly fishers need to fool fish consistently with these exciting patterns.

Eric Peper grew up fly fishing the Beaverkill and learned its ways from some of the Catskills' greatest anglers, including Walt Dette, Harry Darbee, Al McClane, and Sparse Grey Hackle. Fly Fishing the Beaverkill distills his vast experience into a concise, authoritative package. Peper addresses where to find the trout, what flies to use, how the seasons affect the angling, and how to avoid the crowds on this popular upstate New York river. Fly-fishing guru Gary LaFontaine went along on this foray into classic American trout fishing, using his own experience on the Beaverkill and his extensive knowledge of fly fishing to help elicit the essence of the Beaverkill experience.
Included are a hatch chart of important insects, a list of popular flies for the river, recipes for several essential flies, and what Peper calls "adaptive behavior for the Beaverkill" or how to enjoy the experience despite the stream's popularity. There are scenic and helpful black-and-white photos throughout. This guide is essential reading for all anglers planning to fish this well-known American trout stream.