Joe Humphreys's Trout Tactics

Every trout fly fisherman should have a copy of this book. Just the wet fly leader formula alone is priceless let alone a plethora of other information you may never learn on your own.

I have owned this book for several years. I have it underlined, highlighted and added paper clips, markers, folded corners and otherwise marked so many things it probably weighs twice as much as when new. The book is just that fantastic. Joe is a student of George Harvey and these guys know their stuff! Nothing fancy, just a down to earth approach based on decades of living their passion for the pure love of it. Both were teachers for years in addition to lifetime fly fishers. Joe is the record holder for the biggest trout in Pennsylvania, a 34 inch (yes 34 inch) brownie which for 11 years was a state record for any tackle and is still the fly rod record! You will learn his tied leaders formulae for all kinds of conditions; tight brush, dry fly, streamer, and nymphing in slow, fast, deep or cold waters. He also covers night fishing in detail, an art in itself. I urge you to read this book. It will make a non fisher want to buy a fly rod. You may also want to read George Harvey's book "Techniques of Trout Fishing and Fly Tying" isbn.1558 210687 or 1558210741 (paperback). You will not be disappointed. I look up to very, very few people but these guys are my heroes!

I never caught a trout on a fly that I tied until I started reading Joe Humphreys's books. My techniques where bad. In his book "On the Stream with Joe Humphreys", he explains in great detail the technique of short line nymphing. His book was interesting and easy to read. I read it in two days, and on the third day, I went to the stream and caught my first six trout ever. I wanted to learn more from him, so I purchased "Joe Humphrey's Trout Tactics". He explains another nymphing technique in detail, along with techniques for streamers and dries, and I've caught trout using those also! Joe Humphreys is good at explaining his techniques in layman's terms, you don't have to be an expert fly fisherman to understand what he is talking about. And his techniques work. I recommend "Joe Humphrey's Trout Tactics" and "On the Stream with Joe Humphreys" to anyone who wants to catch more fish with a fly rod.

I have met Joe and he is the greatest teacher and most helpful person you will meet in learning fly fishing. The book will give you insight and knowlege beyond your years as a fly fisherman. Whether you just started fly fishing or are a seasoned veteran, this book will teach you some thing new and practical for fly fishing. If there was only one fly fishing book I could put on my shelf, this would be it.

I have read many books on fly fishing but none as wonderfully informative and hard to put down as this one. Along with info. it is packed w/stories about the old times. Its really neat. I definitely recommend this to a beginner to get a great start. Or anyone, it teaches a lot. The techniques also work very well. Get this book!