9 Books and Courses To Learn Fly Fishing
In the last decades, fly fishing has become so popular that nowadays we can find thousands of books and courses that talk about it. From beginner’s guides to intermediate and even expert guides. Likewise, there are great books of true stories of adventures in nature related somehow to fly fishing. Likewise, there are many high-quality courses where we are taught how to properly use all the fishing equipment, tips, and much more, so we can find a wide range of content of different styles to learn about fly fishing. Nonetheless, it can be a challenge to find the right books and courses for everyone’s knowledge, whether you are a beginner or you already have years of experience enjoying this sport, so we have compiled the best ones, and today we bring you the 9 BOOKS AND COURSES TO LEARN FLY FISHING.
1) THE ORVIS GUIDE TO BEGINNING FLY FISHING: 101 TIPS FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER BY TOM ROSENBAUER
https://www.amazon.com/Orvis-Guide-Beginning-Fly-Fishing/dp/1602393230/ref=sr_1_2_sspa? crid=1EJRSYUXO465S&keywords=fly+fishing+books&qid=1676205211&sprefix=fly+fishing+books%2Caps%2C402&sr=8-2- spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzRkZIOURBUEM4RFRBJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTg5MzkyOTgxQjFZOTJIQVFEJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1ODgwNzMxU1FYRFczOUJMWFFGJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
As its name suggests, this is the perfect guide for all people who are interested in getting started in this beautiful sport, as it covers the most basic aspects and teaches us in detail all the basics. This guide is the best starting point in the discovery of this sport. You will learn the basic techniques in a very didactic way with high-quality illustrations and photographs, such as how to tie knots, learn how to cast with precision, and how to find fish in rivers, among other things. In addition, it covers a very important aspect that very few books do, safety. Tom Rosenbauer gives us valuable safety tips to avoid injury and keep all the equipment in good condition.
2) FLY FISHING HOUSTON & SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS (THE LOCAL ANGLER, 2) BY ROBERT H. MCCONNELL
If you live in the largest city in the southern United States, Houston, you can’t miss this great book written by Robert McConnell, where he explains how and where to go fishing in South Texas. McConnell tells us that you can go for fresh spotted and largemouth bass in the Pineywoods waters or go to Village Creek, where you can get catfish and bass, among other fish. In addition to providing an excellent, detailed guide to the best areas to fish in South Texas, Robert also gives tips on how to make fly boxes, especially for this area. McConnell also provides us with QR codes with GPS coordinates indicating the best places to park in each of the sites he recommends.
3) THE HISTORY OF FLY-FISHING IN FIFTY FLIES BY IAN WHITELAW
Ian Whitelaw takes us through the history of the sport uniquely and entertainingly. Whitelaw is a well-known writer with decades of experience in the fishing industry, in fact, he has collaborated for many years on several books for different publishers. This book takes us on a journey through the history of fishing, but at the same time shows us how the different styles have been created and perfected. However, it can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, so it is recommended for intermediate or experienced anglers.
4) THE TOTAL FLY FISHING MANUAL: 307 ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND TIPS BY JOE CERMELE
If you are looking for a manual to learn everything you need to know about fly fishing, this is the ideal one for you, whether you have a little experience in this sport or if you are an expert, you will learn how to improve your technique, how to make the most of your equipment, among many other things with more than 300 tips. Without a doubt, this is the best collection of tips compiled by Joe Cermele. In fact, it has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 from over 500 reviews on Amazon.
5) THE LONGEST SILENCE: A LIFE IN FISHING BY THOMAS MCGUANE
In compiling the best books, we could not leave out what is considered one of the classics of the sport, The Longest Silence by Thomas McGuane. Master McGuane is considered one of the best fly fishing writers, as he uniquely addresses all aspects of the sport, from the art of fly tying to offering a detailed guide on how to cast with precision. Besides, what makes this book unique is how you can feel McGuire’s dedication and passion for the sport.
6) FLY-FISHING ADVICE FROM AN OLD-TIMER: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE SPORT AND ITS LANGUAGE BY ED QUIGLEY
https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishing-Advice-Old-Timer-Practical-Language/dp/1628736895/ref=sr_1_17_sspa? crid=3GPHCU5YIEEGW&keywords=the+best+fly+fishing+books&qid=1676237683&s=books&sprefix=the+best+fly+fishing+bo%2Cstripbooks%2C1025&sr=1-17- spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFKQ0RJTU5TRDFXRkUmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2NDYzMzIxSjIzUzVCUk1CUkVTJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NTAyNTlBT1FMWERPMFI5S1omd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGYmYmWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dBbGljaz10cnVl
Ed Quigley is one of the most recognized writers in the sport, with decades of experience and multiple collaborations working with various publishers. Quigley transmits all his knowledge in this book, where he explains with realistic illustrations from the most basic tips for beginners to some more advanced techniques for the more experienced. Quigley gives us a practical guide to learning how to choose rods, reels, and lines, as well as several tips to fish in winter and even improvise if some of our equipment fails, making this one of the most complete books on this sport.
7) TACTICAL FLY FISHING: LESSONS LEARNED FROM COMPETITION FOR ALL ANGLERS BY DEVIN OLSEN
With a 4.8 out of 5 rating out of 282 ratings on Amazon, in this book Devin Olsen teaches us the techniques that led him to become a member of the USA fly-fishing team, earning a bronze medal. While this book is a bit advanced for those who are new to the sport, it is an excellent choice for those who already have some experience, as they will learn how to perfect their technique and take their skills to the next level. Olsen also teaches several strategies for fishing in rivers, lakes, and small streams, which is often a challenge for beginners, but after reading this book, your skills are sure to improve considerably.
8) THE BASICS OF FLY TYING BY CHRIS DICKER
https://www.udemy.com/course/the-basics-of-fly-tying/
While we can find hundreds if not thousands of online courses about this sport, there is one that stands out above the rest, and it is this one by Chris Dicker, where he explains mainly all the basics of fly tying, what tools we need for it and how to do it. We must remember that fly tying is a crucial part of this sport, so once you master these basics, you will be ready to move into advanced techniques. To get the most out of this course you only need to have the basic equipment, so you can practice as you go through the classes.
9) FLY FISHING THE ULTIMATE GUIDE (2022) BY TOM MARZ
https://www.udemy.com/course/flyfishing/
This 2-hour course consists of 13 articles and is taught by Tom Marz, who designed it for beginners and intermediates. So, if you have never practiced this sport or have some experience, but want to learn more, this course was made for you. Tom Marz not only explains the basics but also teaches more advanced techniques and shares some useful tips for different situations. Nonetheless, you don’t need to have the equipment to watch the course, it is better if you have it, but if you haven’t decided to buy it yet, that’s ok, you will still be able to take full advantage of all the lessons.