Digital media is phenomenal. Even for an activity as niche as fly fishing, there are streaming videos, eBooks, and a cornucopia of online options. The information is dynamic, engaging, and relevant. But a day will come when the power is out and the devices aren’t charged. Alternatively, you might want something that is a little more timeless… or simply quieter.
The signs of a healthy library includes books from the past and present. Here’s a peek at a solid fly fishing library!
Thankfully, there is a rich literary heritage within fly fishing. The landscape of the sport would be unrecognizable without the works or Izaak Walton, Norman Maclean, and John Gierach. Generations of anglers have learned of far-off destinations, followed fly tying instructions, and daydreamed of rising trout through the pages of a book. Books are not only educational and entertaining; their ideas and the tangible items themselves connect us.
Even with all the digital resources out there, every fly fisher should consider curating their own analog angling library.
Know what you like.
Chances are that the fly fishing books that you’ll enjoy will align with the genres of other books you enjoy. If you like novels, you’ll probably like fly fishing novels. If you like theory or analysis, you’ll probably like skill or technique-based volumes. If you like reading to get better at something, you’ll like whatever books will help you accomplish your goals.
If you’re not much of a reader, give it a shot. Your passion for fly fishing might be what’s needed to get you into a book.
Know where it can be found.
Libraries are so valuable. Head to your local library and browse the fishing section. Spend an hour reading a chapter here and a chapter there. Create a wish list of what you want to turn around to buy or what might be fun to own in the future. The sign of a good book is something you borrow, read, return, and then purchase.
Amazon is always an option. Your local bookstore has a lot of advantages (beyond supporting a small business): regional publications and the ability to thumb through works you’re considering. It is used bookstores, however, that are the proverbial honey holes. I’ve never been in a used bookstore that doesn’t have at least one fly fishing book worth buying.
Get what you need.
The best way to get a library is to get the component pieces of a library: books. Buy a few here and a few there. Broadcast your wish list come birthday, Father’s Day, or Christmastime. For every new book you buy and read, pick up something that is at least twenty years old. Pursue first editions and out-of-print volumes (if you’re into that kind of thing). Build a luxurious space in your den for your books, complete with angling art and fine bourbons (if you’re into that kind of thing).
Encourage your friends, kids, and neighbors to enjoy the outdoors by sharing what you glean from the voices that have entrenched themselves into the fly fishing consciousness. And you, too, can take that good time in the armchair and turn it into great time on the water.
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Want to see some other books that would be a great addition to your fly fishing library? Check out dozens of recommendations and reviews over at Casting Across. Books are broken down into the categories of guide, technique, and literature. Have a book that you think is an absolute must-read? Let me know at: Matthew@CastingAcross.com