Smallmouth bass swim in lakes and rivers across the United States and Canada and are a premier fly-rod game fish in almost every way--they take flies readily, feed on diverse foods for a long period of time, tolerate higher water temperatures than trout, and fight harder than any other North American freshwater fish their size. This is the first book dedicated to the best modern flies for these fish that includes both detailed step-by-step tying instructions as well as top patterns and recipes for flies that cover the complete water column, from top to bottom. With over 500 full-color step-by-step images and 300 patterns by today's top tiers from around the country, this book is the definitive resource for smallmouth bass.

Game Changer flies have completely revolutionized how fly anglers approach pressured and wary fish around the world. Tied on a series of interconnecting spines, these flies can be drawn through the water with a serpentine swimming action or made to glide and jacknife in the water with hard strips--movements that predatory fish find irresistible. In this book, from one of the most creative and visionary minds in fly tying and fly fishing, author Blane Chocklett shares his tips and techniques for getting maximum movement out of these flies, both at the vise and on the water. In addition to covering popular patterns such as the Finesse Changer and Feather Game Changer, Chocklett traces the evolution of his search for the ultimate pattern, and takes readers along his journey of discovery, by beginning with his Gummy Minnow and ending the book with perhaps the most effective fly ever designed for apex predators, the Hybrid Changer. - Step-by-step tying instructions for 20 flies - Chapter covering hooks, shanks, brushes, and other critical materials - Fishing techniques, including tips on retrieves and casting large flies - Close-ups of Chocklett's favorite patterns - Detailed information on building brushes

Favorite Flies is the latest fly-tying manual from acclaimed writer and fisherman David Klausmeyer, in which his 303 best flies have been brought together for the ease of fly fishers everywhere. Whether you are a beginner seeking a comprehensive tying guide or an experienced tier yearning for detailed information on the most successful flies, this book has it all. Each fly featured comes with a complete recipe, step-by-step tying instructions, and specialized fishing tactics. Included within this tier-friendly manual are detailed text blocks that carefully describe each tying step for each featured fly. Supported with a materials recipe for each fly, the many images of the tools, materials, and flies make it easy to understand and tie even the most complex flies. With this guidebook, you’ll learn to master the classic patterns, as well as hot, new innovative ones. Fly tying is not only a craft, but an art form. In Favorite Flies, Klausmeyer will help you excel at both. Avid sport flyfishermen will treasure this book and gain even more in-depth knowledge.

One of the country’s top guides and fly tiers covers how to effectively imitate the baitfish that the premier game fish of the Great Lakes feed on. Stunning photographs of the baitfish underwater, in their habitat, complement the detailed information on presenting the fly and other key tactics. Matching Baitfish includes guide tips for reading the water, strategies for swinging flies, and 20 guide flies and detailed recipes. Indispensable information for anglers in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as Ontario, Canada.

A look at the development of the sport over the past six centuries. Once limited to trout and salmon, today fly-fishing techniques are used to catch every fish species from minnows to marlin in rivers, lakes and oceans from the Amazon to the Arctic. From the many thousands of fly patterns developed over the centuries, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies focuses on fifty iconic flies chosen to represent the evolution not only of fishing flies and fly tying but also the sport itself. Filled with illustrations and photographs of the flies (the fifty are just the starting point—more than 200 flies are mentioned or shown in the book), as well as profiles of key characters, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies charts the growth and diversification of this fascinating sport from the fifteenth century to the present day and its spread from Britain, Europe and Japan to North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and now to every country in the world. The evolution of fly-fishing tackle—rods, reels, lines and hooks—is also covered in a series of essays spread throughout the book. Praise for The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies “A delightful ramble along the stream of fishing history.” —Star Tribune “This glorious book of lures will get you itching for a new toy, a new boat, a new rod—anything to experience the relaxation of this old hobby.” —Foreword Reviews

Two hundred and forty popular and effective fly patterns for fishing everywhere in North America.

This is the definitive book on fly-tying, with thousands of fly patterns included for the enthusiast. Expert angler, fly tier, and author Terry Hellekson addresses everything from the history of fly-fishing around the world to the history of fly tying and fly-tying materials. Hellekson shares interviews with fly-tying greats of years past, along with the fascinating history and background of some of the popular individual flies, making this a great read. His colorful recollections of people and events will intrigue and delight even the most serious fly tier. He also shares years of wisdom and knowledge on fly-tying colors; fly patterns; fly-tying tools, hooks, and materials; and fly-fishing and fly-tying methods. Hellekson' depicts hundreds of intricate patterns for dry flies, wet flies, and nymphs. Mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly species are widely represented with simulations of the phases of their respective life cycles. Detailed patterns for terrestrials, damselflies and dragonflies, leeches and worms, midges, crustaceans, streamers, shad flies, steelhead flies, Atlantic salmon flies, Spey flies, Pacific salmon flies, and salmon and steelhead dry flies round out the book. This encyclopedia is organized into two distinct parts: the first section describes the origins of fly-fishing; the concepts of vision and perception of color; and the tools and materials from which artificial flies are created. It addresses dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies. The second section of the book thoroughly attends to the simulation of other insect orders, such as terrestrials and crustaceans, and then delves into the specifics of streamers, shad flies, steelhead flies, and more. Even a fly-fishing novice will be enthralled with illustrations that clarify the patterns in a reader-friendly style. Line illustrations throughout, plus more than 2,950 detailed fly patterns-including 695 flies shown in full color-make this a comprehensive fly-tying encyclopedia beyond compare. Terry Hellekson was born into the world of fly-fishing and spent his early life in Happy Camp, California, where his father had a fly-fishing guide service on the Klamath and Trinity rivers during the 1940s and 1950s. Hellekson not only fly-fished and tied flies as a youth, but he developed many new fly patterns and eventually became immersed in all phases of the fly-fishing and fly-tying businesses. He founded Fly Fishing Specialties, a wholesale and retail business. He continually exchanges information with leading experts in fly-fishing and fly tying. Hellekson has traveled the world discovering sources for fly-tying materials and other products that he sold on the international market. He has also fished many of the great lakes and rivers of the world, traveling to such far off places as Kashmir to test the waters of the Himalayas. Hellekson is one of the founders of the Northern Utah Fly Fishers and the Granite Bay Fly Casters in northern California. Through fly-tying classes and fly-fishing clinics, he has taught countless numbers of fly fishers the fine points of the sporting art. Besides the many articles he has written on fly-fishing and fly tying, he has authored two books, Popular Fly Patterns (1976) and Fish Flies (1995), with this revised edition the culmination of a lifetime of work. He has also made generous contributions to the works of other authors. He now lives and fishes with his wife, Patricia, in Montana, where they have the famous Kootenai River at their doorstep.

Provides step-by-step instructions on tying five hundred trout flies and offers information on tying techniques, tools, and materials.

Streams mentioned in the text include: Bloody Run and Spring Branch in Iowa; Ontonagon River, Escanaba River, Pigeon River, Au Sable River, Pere Marquette River, and Muskegon River in Michigan ; Whitewater River, Root River, and South Branch Root River in Minnesota; Brule River, White River, Namekagon River, Oconto, South Branch, Oconto River, Willow River, Kinnickinnic River, Wolf River, Tomorrow/Waupaca River, Timber Coulee, West Fork, Kicapoo River, Big and Little Green River, Castle Rock, Pine River, Willow River, White River, Mecan River, and Black Earth Creek in Wisconsin.

Incredibly beautiful all-color pattern and dressing guide of best flies for trout, salmon, steelhead, bass, and saltwater species. Most shown actual size or larger. Marvel at the tiers and photographer's art as you use it over and over researching flies to tie or when preparing for a trip. Stetzer is an expert fly tier as well as guide.