The Elements of Fly Fishing: A Comprehensive Guide to the Equipment, Techniques, and Resources of the Sport

A resource for the fly fisherman discusses the sport's history and paraphernalia, and features hints, strategies, and techniques for successful fishing

Almost any anthology is destined to be a mix of good and bad, and this big, illustrated collection is unfortunately no exception. On the good side are Dick Talleur's "Lines, Leaders, & Tippets," Gary Soucie's "Knots," and Sandy Rogers's "The Literature of Fly Fishing" (an excellent selection tool for librarians). Chapters on "Species" and "Warmwater" would have deserved praise had they not ignored the boom in fly-fishing for carp. Disappointments are Dennis Bitton's "Destinations," which reads as if it were lifted straight from tourist pamphlets, and Tom Akstens's "Casting," which relies too much on description and not nearly enough on illustrations. To be fair, it would be nearly impossible to address these subjects adequately within the space of one chapter. The book aims to reach novice anglers, for whom it should be an effective introduction, with helpful and attractive graphics, photos, and sidebars. An optional purchase for fly-fishing collections.AJeff Grossman, Milwaukee Area Technical Coll. Lib., Oak Creek, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.