Dave Whitlock's Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods

From Front Jacket: "This superb guide is filled with scores of practical observations on all the aquatic trout foods of importance to fly fishermen. The chapters include: * Concepts of Imitation * Water * How Trout Feed * Mayflies * Stoneflies * Caddisflies * Midges and Craneflies * Dragonflies and Damselflies * Crustaceans * Forage Fish * Leeches, Eels, and Similar Trout Foods In down-to-earth prose and helpful drawings and charts, Dave shows the life cycles and characteristics of all the aquatic creatures, intimately describes their behavior, and offers splendid tips on how best to imitate them -- both in innovative fly tying and in the use of the flies in rivers and lakes. There are tying instructions for all of Dave's favorite patterns -- many of which he developed himself; and at the end there is a special chapter on what Dave himself carries in his own fly boxes, and a special glossary of great value to fly tyers."

Dave Whitlock presents information about important foods for trout - insects, crustaceans, and bait fish. He covers each organism's life cycle and how it relates to trout feeding, then simple, effective patterns to represent the imporatant life stages. I particularly like the way Dave makes his patterns a good mix of realisim with impressionistic simplicity. Excellent book for both beginning and experienced tyers.