Trout Flies: Proven Patterns

Classic book - a definitive treatment of the subject, autographed (not to me, unfortunately) by the late author. In NEW condition. Will be treasured and passed on.

The 62 patterns in this bookk were included because they work! My favorite fly is the "Roll-Over" Scud, it just seems to work for me no matter where I try it. Gary and his team were some of the first folks to take seriously not only the size, shape and color of the fly; but it's action as well. For years the action of a fly has been ignored. Gary and his team looked at what triggers trout to strike and designed their flies and tested them accordingly. The flies are unconvential, but as I said, THEY WORK!

This was a fun book to read. It is limited to a few patterns. If you're looking for a listing of what's hot in the west, this is not your book If you are looking for some unusual patterns to try, give it a whirl. I tied a handful of these patterns and took them to Montana this summer. They weren't knockouts for me in a half dozen high country lakes. But Gary is a very creative fly tyer and a careful researcher; I don't doubt they work in the right time and place. A well done book.

This is the first fly pattern book that I've ever read from cover to cover. LaFontaine's insights into trout behavior, and his off-the wall sense of humor kept me turning the pages. In all honesty, LaFontaine's flies are weird. I have no idea what the "Air Head" is supposed to be (it looks like something from our office's packing department trash can). The "Creature" looks like it was tied by a 5 year old. And Gary must have been in a different reality when he came up with "Bread." But every time I tie one of these bugs, it works. Usually amazingly well. I think LaFontaine is currently America's most innovative and creative fly tier. This book is a great source for his most effective patterns.

The Pope keeps Trout Flies in his bathroom for reading material (or at least that's the rumor). This book lists the 62 patterns developed by Gary LaFontaine and his crew of scuba diving researchers, but it is not just a listing of individual patterns. The flies are in total a system for catching trout in all common fly fishing situations -- and these are the best patterns ever invented. The flies that been sensational for me include the Emergent Sparkle Puap, the Twist Nymph, the Rollover Scud, the Flex-Hopper, and the Stub-Wing Bucktail. My friends all have their personal favorites. Every one of the sixty-two flies has a full explanation of where and when to use it, tying instructions, and a log entry of a successful day with the fly (and it is these entries that make the book so much fun to read). -Patrick Ellison