What are the best American angling books? Out of the thousands printed, I offer this list of my selections segregated by genre for your consideration.

This list is still being worked on but several have asked to see what I've compiled so far....

 

 

American Angling Books 2001-Present:

 

  Literature:

 John Gierach   These two words should say it all…

Travers Corners Series  by Scott Waldie

 

  History:

Backcasts: A Global History of Fly Fishing and Conservation by Samuel Snyder - An in depth look from an International view

The Grand Cascapedia River: A History Vol 2 by Hoagy Carmichael

 

  Technical:

 

  Fly Tying:

            The Complete Book of Fly Tying by Eric Leiser -  Deceptively simple but thoroughly complete.

Photo Illustrated Book:

 

 Humor:

 

  Tackle:

 

 Fly Casting:

Casting With Lefty Kreh  by Lefty Kreh - At almost 500 pages it’s in here

 

By Word of Mouth, A Cult Following:

The Royal Wulff Murders: A Novel by Keith McCafferty

 

Ichthyology From a Sportman's Perspective

Trout and Salmon of North America by Robert J. Behnke - This will be the standard reference work on this subject

 

  Bibliography:

Angling Books: A Guide for Collectors by CharlesThacher – Extremely useful

 

American Angling Books 1950-2000:

 

  Literature:

A River Runs Through it and Other Stories by Norman Maclean - This should have been the Pulitzer Prize fiction winner in 1977

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - This 1952 novella and 1954 Nobel Prize winner stands the test of time.

Fishless Days Angling Nights by Sparse Grey Hackle. - A master with words rarely equaled

Trout Madness by Robert Traver - A classic

Where the Pools Are Bright and Deep by Dana Lamb - This is an affordable start to entice you into reading all of his titles

A River Never Sleeps by Roderick Haig Brown  - A Canadian yes, but how can one exclude him from this list? Read all you can by this author!

The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton - In his unique writing style.

Trout Bum by John Gierach - The book that made a lot of fans of his writing.

Full Creel by Nick Lyons - Whet your interest here, and then read more of his titles by this excellent writer.

The Well Tempered Angler by Arnold Gingrich - A well written book by the former Esquire magazine editor

 

  History:

The Fishing in Print by Arnold Gingrich - An excellent panorama of angling books from the beginning to the present.

American Fly Fishing: A History by Paul Schullery -  A good reference work on how we got to here by this multiple award winning author.

The Quill Gordon by John McDonald - A great read with much information on angling history.

 Land of Little Rivers: A Story in Photos of Catskill Fly Fishing by Austin Francis

 

 

  Technical:

How to Fish From Top to Bottom by Sid Gordon - An overlooked classic

The Practical Fly Fisherman by A.J. McClane - What he describes in a single chapter, takes others an entire book to cover the same subject.

Trout by Ernest Schwiebert - If it's not within these two massive volumes, you probably didn't need to know it anyway.

Fly Fishing in Salt Water by Lefty Kreh - Not the first book on the subject, but the best one that led the way for so much more

The Challenge of The Trout by Gary LaFontaine - The kickoff book that led to his other great fly tying and fishing books.

 

  Fly Tying:

A Modern Dry Fly Code by Vince Marinaro -  Unappreciated at first, fewer than 340 copies sold before being remaindered in 1951!

Fishing Flies and Fly Tying by Bill Blades - The book that launched thousands of fly tiers.

Streamer Fly Tying by Joseph Bates - The reference work on the subject.

Fly Tying Methods by Darrel Martin - Darrel has been tying and sharing his vast knowledge for about 40 years.

The Fly Tier's Benchside Reference by Ted Leeson & Jim Schollmeyer - The title say it all.

The Complete Fly Tier by Ruben Cross

The Complete Book of Fly Tying by Eric Leiser - This may be the fly tying book with the most copies ever printed

Pamphlet Honorable Mention; A Simplified Course in Fly Tying by George Harvey; - The Art of Weaving Hair Hackles for Trout Flies
by George F. Grant; - Professional Fly Tying Manual by George L. Herter

 

Photo Illustrated Book:

Anatomy of A Fisherman by Robert Traver - Still never equaled for a combination of pictures and narrative.

Upstream: Fly Fishing in the American West Pictures by Charles Lindsay and words by Thomas McGuane - A good combination.

Distant Waters by R. Valentine Atkinson - An outstanding photographer.

 

 Humor:

The Spawning Run by William Humphrey - A tale well written.

Guiding Elliott by Robert Lee -

 

  Tackle:

The Masters Guide to Building A Bamboo Rod by Evert Garrison & Hoagy Carmichael - The keeper of the craft puts this art into book form.

Fiberglass Rod Making by Dale Clemens - How to roll your own from a blank.

Classic Rods and Rodmakers by Martin J Keane.- American Bamboo Rod History

 

 Fly Casting:

Joan Wulff's Fly Casting Techniques by Joan Wulff - The undisputed Queen of Casting gives advice

Casting Angles by Mac Brown -

 

By Word of Mouth, A Cult Following:

The Shining Tides by Win Brooks - A striped bass version of Return to the River

 

Ichthyology From a Sportman's Perspective

 

  The Worst Angling Book Written:

First Place: Cast Again                 Runner Up: Walk On Water 

 

Bibliography:

Angling Books of the Americas by Henry P. Bruns – While needing a update, nothing else has appeared to replace it.

 

  .

 

 

 

American Angling Books 1900-1949:

   Literature:

.

 

  History:

The Complete Fly Fisherman: the Notes and Letters of Theodore Gordon by John Mc Donald - A important piece of American angling history

 

  Technical:

Trout by Ray Bergman - A strong candidate for the winner of the 'if I only owned one book' award.

 

  Fly Tying:

A Book of Trout Flies by Preston Jennings -

Tying American Trout Lures by Rueben Cross -

 

  Photo Illustrated Book:

.

 

  Humor:

 To Hell With Fishing by Ed Zern - A classic.

 

  Tackle:

The Idyl of The Split Bamboo by George Parker Holden -

 

  Fly Casting:

Modern Fly Casting by John Alden Knight -

 

Ichthyology From a Sportman's Perspective

Game Fish of the World by Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald & Francesca LaMonte _

 

 

 

American Angling Books 1850-1900:

 

Literature:

.

 

  History:

The Restigouche and Its Salmon Fishing by Dean Sage

 

 

  Technical:

Fishing In American Waters by Genio Scott -

Fish and Fishing of the United States... by Frank Forester -

The American Anglers Book by Thaddeus Norris -

 

  Fly Tying:

 Favorite Flies and Their Histories by Mary Orvis Marbury -  

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Photo Illustrated Book:

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 Humor:

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  Tackle:

Fly Rods and  Fly Tackle by H.P. Wells -

 

 Fly Casting:

 

  

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