Table Of ContentOrvis_FFGuide.REV.qxd:Orvis_FFGuide_5.0.qxd 6/29/10 3:26 PM Page 1
Completely Revised and Updated
$24.95 ($31.95 in Canada) R with 400+ new color photos & illustrations
O (cid:2)More than200,000 copies sold
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H FLY-FISHING GUIDE
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“Of the many primers meant for beginning and intermediate fly-fishers,
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide is the best I know—a comprehensive book for all species
and all waters from the trout stream to the bonefish flats.”
—James R. Babb, Editor, Gray’s Sporting Journal
“The ultimate reference book for fly fishers of all stripes.”
—John Merwin, Fishing Editor, Field & Stream F
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Now for the first time in full color, The Orvis Fly- casting and presentation; flies and their specific F
Fishing Guide appears in a completely revised and uses; essential knots and how to tie them prop- I
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updated edition that solidifies its place as the erly; successful techniques on stream, pond, or H
flagship title of the Orvis books. A best-selling, ocean; and information on the best tackle, flies, I
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fully illustrated, and comprehensive book, this and methods for pursuing major gamefish in
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large-format volume has been required reading fresh and salt water, from bluegill to tarpon.
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for every angler for the past two decades.
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With new illustrations and paintings by TOM ROSENBAUER is also the author of The Orvis
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renowned fly-fishing artist Bob White, this wholly Guide to Reading Trout Streams, The Orvis Fly-Tying Hand-
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rewritten edition addresses every significant book, and many other important books for fly E
requirement of the sport and provides an excellent fishers. He has worked for the Orvis Company in
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foundation for pleasurable years of fishing. Manchester, Vermont, for more than thirty years. m
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Included here are instructions for tackle selection; He lives in nearby Pawlet. dle
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Front cover photograph © Creatas Cover design by Diana Nuhn
Back cover paintings by Bob White Printed in China
THE LYONS PRESS
Guilford, CT 06437 THE
www.LyonsPress.com LYONS TOM ROSENBAUER
The Lyons Press is an imprint of The Globe Pequot Press PRESS
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In praise of The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide
Of the many primers meant for beginning and intermediate fly-fishers, Tom Rosenbauer’s is the best I know
—a comprehensive guide for all species and all waters from the trout stream to the bonefish flats, from the
bass pond to the salmon river, from selecting tackle to caring for it, repairing it, and deftly deploying it in
almost every conceivable situation. The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guideis the right entry point for new fly fishers,
and a trusted path for experienced fly fishers looking to expand their horizons.
—James R. Babb, Editor
Gray’s Sporting Journal
There is a bunch of fly-fishing guides out there, but none of them benefits from the depth and breadth of
knowledge that Tom Rosenbauer brings to this revision of his classic book. Tom’s not just a fine angler, but
a great teacher, as well, and the central argument of this book is that fly fishing is not as difficult as many
people believe. Tom’s concise writing and Bob White’s clear illustrations make it even easier. Whether you
are a beginner looking to catch your first fish on a fly or an intermediate angler looking to become an ex-
pert, this book is an invaluable resource.
—Phil Monahan, Editor
American Angler
Tom Rosenbauer’s wholly revised Orvis Fly Fishing Guide is the most comprehensive, and best, introduc-
tion to fly fishing that I have seen. All aspects of our sport are explained with clear, common-sense expla-
nations. It makes understandable what often seems arcane and frustrating for most beginning and
intermediate anglers.
—John Randolph, Editor
Fly Fisherman
The ultimate reference book for fly fishers of all stripes. Tom Rosenbauer’s clear and contemporary answers
to fly fishing’s knottiest problems give all anglers a refreshingly open path to success on the water.
—John Merwin, Fishing Editor
Field & Stream
This is simply the best, most comprehensive, most understandable book for newcomers to our sport that
I’ve ever seen. It also belongs in the reference library of experienced fly fishers who need a quick education
about a fish species or a technique they haven’t used before.
—Howell Raines
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author of
The One that Got Awayand Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis.
A splendid guide including everything an angler needs.
—Jim Harrison
Author of Plain Song(poems), The Raw and the Cooked(essays),
and Legends of the Fall(fiction), and contributing editor to Field & Stream
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Books by Tom Rosenbauer
The Orvis Fly-Tying Manual, 2nd Edition
The Orvis Fly-Tying Guide
The Orvis Guide to Reading Trout Streams
The Orvis Streamside Guide to Leaders, Knots, and Tippets
The Orvis Streamside Guide to Approach and Presentation
The Orvis Streamside Guide to Trout Foods and Their Imitations
Prospecting for Trout
Casting Illusions
Fly Fishing in America
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Completely Revised and Updated, with Over 400
New Color Photos and Illustrations
Photographs by Tom Rosenbauer
& the Orvis Company
Illustrations by Bob White
The Lyons Press
Guilford, Connecticut
An imprint of The Globe Pequot Press
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Copyright © 1984, 1988, 2007 by the Orvis Company
Photographs © copyright Tom Rosenbauer, unless otherwise noted
Illustrations © copyright Bob White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to
The Lyons Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.
The Lyons Press is an imprint of The Globe Pequot Press.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States
Designed by Sheryl P. Kober
ISBN-13: 978-1-59228-818-2
ISBN-10: 1-59228-818-9
The Library of Congress has previously catalogued an earlier edition as follows:
Rosenbauer, Tom.
Orvis fly-fishing guide/Tom Rosenbauer
p. cm.
ISBN 0-941130-91-6
ISBN 0-941130-92-4 (pbk.)
1. Fly fishing. I. Title
SH456.R66 1984
799.1'2 83-25898
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Acknowledgments vii
Introduction ix
1
1 What Is Fly Fishing?
9
2 Fly Rods and Line Sizes
23
3 Lines and Reels
35
4 Leaders and Knots
65
5 Fly Casting
99
6 Flies
125
7 Fly Selection
155
8 Stream Tactics
185
9 Still-Water Tactics
197
10 Salmon and Steelhead
207
11 Salt Water
219
12 Striking, Playing, and Landing
231
13 Accessories
253
14 Care of Fly-Fishing Tackle
261
Resources
265
Index
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I’d like to thank the following people for showing me new Bowen, Joe Bressler, Paul Bruun, David Carmona, Jay Cas-
techniques to use and new species to fish for; for their help sell, Marty Cecil, Monroe Coleman, Pat Crow, Nick Cur-
with photography and Photoshop, and their editorial cione, Marshall Cutchin, Joe Demalderis, Rick Eck, Brett
gems; and for some wonderful places to research this book. Ference, Charles Gaines, Mike Gawtry, Andy Goode, Rick
For the first edition (1984): Spider Andreson, Bob Grasset, Todd Green, Kevin Gregory, Jim Harrison, Steve
Bachman, Mark Bressler, the late Vern Bressler, Bill Hemkens, Steve Huff, Patrick Keller, Art Lee, Jim Lepage,
Bryson, Silvio Calabi, Carl Coleman, Greg Comar, the Jim Logan, John Maron, Pat McCord, Jay McCullough,
late Leigh Condit, Alan Crossley, John Dembeck, Cooper Jim McFadyean, Galen Mercer, Truel Meyers, Tom Mont-
Gilkes, the late Pat Gill, Bob Gotshall, John Harder, gomery, Pat Neuner, Margot Page, John Rano, Eric Rick-
Chuck Knauf, Dave Linde, Nick Lyons, Ron and Maggie stad, Paul Roos, Dave Ruddock, Rick Ruoff, George Ryan,
MacMillan, Del Mazza, John Merwin, Cook Neilson, John Stalcup, Lou Tabory, Glister Wallace, Jeff Walther,
Dave Perkins, Leigh Perkins, Perk Perkins, Neil Ringler, Bob White, and Victoria Woodruff.
Rick Rishell, Paul Schullery, Tom Shubat, the late Tony Thanks to all my friends and coworkers at The Orvis
Skilton, the late Howard Steere, Jim Sulham, Walter Company. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to
Ungermann, Herb Van Dyke, Wayne Walts, the late work with people who share the same passions.
Richard Wolters, and Ron Zawoyski. And finally, to my wife, Robin, and children, Brett
For the second edition (2007): John Arlotta, Jim Babb, and Brooke, thanks for being so patient with my late
Dave Barber, Jeremy Benn, Rich Benson, Tony Biski, Scott nights sequestered in my study.
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I wrote the original Orvis Fly-Fishing Guidein 1983, and sonably proficient fly fisher as a reference. (Even quite ca-
this much revised and updated edition in 2006, to be the pable anglers may need a refresher course on some spe-
book I would have wanted to read when I first tried fly cialized aspect of fly fishing, such as saltwater knots, the
fishing in the late 1960s and very much needed a good how-to care for waders, or how to fish a dry fly in tricky
guidebook. In the nearly forty years that I’ve been in- currents.) I have tried to offer a balanced view of all the
volved in the fly-fishing business, I’ve always listened various elements and kinds of fly fishing—including
carefully to novices, both in my years as a fly-fishing in- tackle selection, casting, flies, presentation, tactics, and a
structor and afterward. And I’ve studied how-to books on host of other subjects, for all the major gamefish in both
photography, cross-country skiing, kayaking, and even fresh and salt water.
books on macroeconomics or foreign policy, for ideas on Fly fishing has a long and colorful history, and con-
how to present a complex process to the uninitiated. tains significant technical issues. No single book can ex-
When I find someone who can explain in an elegant way plain it all, and that is partly why many serious anglers
a topic unfamiliar to me, I’ll go back and study his or her have large libraries. This book will provide a sensible
approach again and again. So if you’re new to fly fishing, jumping-off point for a sport that is simple in purpose,
I’ve been thinking of you. I want this book to be your re- yet often amazingly—and quite wonderfully—complex
liable reference for at least your first few years, and, hope- in execution. Hopefully, The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guidewill
fully, longer. be a valuable introduction to fly fishing, an endeavor that
I wrote The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide to fill the real will give you immense pleasure, the chance to meet some
and specific needs of anglers. This book presents a start- wonderful people along the way, and more than a glimpse
ing point for the soon-to-be fly fisher and serves the rea- of some of the world’s most beautiful places.
Tom Rosenbauer
Pawlet, Vermont
April 2006
ix
