The Practical Fly Fisher: Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of Fly Fishing

by Doug Stewart

Overview

Sprinkled in between the fly dressings and tying lessons—and alongside his own personal anecdotes—longtime fishing guide Doug Stewart shares insights and instructions that will add to your fishing success in this illustrated guide.

The Practical Fly Fisher will help you become a more complete angler, a better fly tier, and a more successful fly fisher. On top of covering all aspects of fly fishing: casting, proper equipment, tying flies, reading water, the feeding habits of fish, and the proper strategy for fishing a stretch of river, included inside in the book are the secrets of Doug’s favorite patterns.

Doug Stewart, a lifelong fly fisher, is also a fly-tying instructor, guide and a fly shop owner. He has written about fly-fishing for The Oregon Sportsman and Amato Publications. Doug spent many years teaching customers how to fly fish during the thirty-two years he owned Stewart’s Fly Shop. “I think I get more out of teaching someone, out of seeing them be successful or catch their first fish, than I do out of catching my own,” Doug says.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780871083142
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	05/15/2014
Series:	The Pruett Series
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Doug Stewart, a lifelong fly fisher, is also a fly-tying instructor and guide and former fly shop owner, and has written about fly fishing for The Oregon Sportsman and Amato Publications.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION

PART I MASTERING THE TECHNIQUES
Equipment-Rods, Leaders, Fly Lines and Reels
Fly Casting-The Grip, The Basic Cast, Push and Pull Method and Cures,
Mending the Line and Special Casts.


PART II METHODS FOR TYING AND FISHING WET FLIES
Historical Pioneers of Fly Fishing.
Basic Wet Fly Instructions for tying a Leadwing Coachman, Soft Hackles and
Methods of Wet Fly Fishing: The Wet Fly Swing, Upstream Dead Drifting,
Downstream Long-Lining, Subsurface Swing, Upstream Retrieve and The Cross-Stream Strip.
Winter Steelhead Methods-Migration, Holding Waters, Lines, Flies and Leaders
Summer Steelhead Methods-Greased Line, Wet Fly Swing, Dead Drifting, Spotting Fish, Leaders, Water Types and High Sticking.
Tying Streamers and Steelhead Flies-The Supervisor and Nick’s Nightmare.

PART III METHODS FOR TYING AND FISHING NYMPHS
Historical Pioneers of Fly Fishing.
Methods-G.E.M Skues, Sawyer, Teeny, Chuck and Duck, Brooks, Leisenring Lift and Walking the Fly.
Tying Nymphs: Casual Dress, Bitch Creek, Teeny Nymph and Brooks Stone.

PART IV METHODS FOR TYING AND FISHING DRY FLIES
Historical Pioneers of Fly Fishing.
Methods-Dapping the Fly, Recognizing Surface and Subsurface Activity.
Feeding Habits: Rises, Refusals, Selectivity, Masking Hatches, Non-rising Fish and Setting the Hook.
Tying Dry Flies: The Professor, Green Sedge and Royal Coachman.

PART V STREAM ANATOMY, WEATHER, SENSES OF FISH AND ENTOMOLOGY
Riffles, Glides, Pocket Water and Pools
Wing, Rain, Barometer, High and Low Water, Hot Weather, Sun and Shadows.
How Fish See and Perceive Color, The Sense of Smell, The Sense of Hearing, The Sense of Taste and Feel.
Entomology: Matching Hatches, Collecting Equipment, Stream Diary and Insect Identification.

PART VI SPECIAL METHODS
History of the Pott Fly.
Tools and the method to tie the Pott Fly.
Practical Fishing Knots.
Dropper Knots and How to Tie them.
Wading Safely.
Playing, Landing and Releasing Fish.

PART V11 FABULOUS FLIES AND FABLES
Twenty-four Proven Patterns and Selective Stories.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Editorial Reviews

Incredibly useful, interesting, and reverent . . . so well written and organized that you almost forget you are being educated in the course of being entertained and intrigued.” —John Shewey, Editor-in-Chief, Northwest Fly Fishing magazine

“I have had the privilege of knowing Doug since the early ’70s and am proud to be his friend. His passion for the sport of fly fishing is easily noticeable in his writing and day-to-day conversations. Doug goes way deeper than just catching fish. He is always happy to share what he has learned with others, which I feel puts him at the head of the class! His vast knowledge and research are proven in his new book.” —Jim Teeny, www.jimteeny.com
 
“A few years ago, I ran into Doug Stewart at his booth in the Portland Sportsman’s Show and we reminisced about our youthful years. Doug was tying his well-known steelhead fly called the Max Canyon and wearing his unique trademark English tweed fishing hat as we talked about fishing and fly tying. Our paths have crossed many times since, tying flies together at fishing shows and an occasional day of fishing.
“Doug’s new book, The Practical Fly Fisher, is a direct reflection about the life of an avid fly fisherman and teacher, and his knowledge and easygoing style have helped him teach people with all levels of abilities. His writing includes insights into solving problems as well as humorous and down-to-earth stories. Last, but not least, it conveys his message that we should connect ourselves with the past in order to appreciate where we are today. I’m happy to call the man in the tweed hat my friend.” —Lee Clark, coauthor of Fly Tying with Poly Yarn and the originator of Clark’s Stonefly
 
“I have fished with Doug for many years and have promoted his earlier works. His writing is interesting, informative, and spiced with humorous adventures. The strategies and techniques in his book will sharply improve your confidence, skills, and ultimate success. In simple terms, his distinctive style makes for a fun read and is invaluable for anyone who enjoys fly fishing and activities in the outdoors.” —Rick Toland, lifelong friend

From the Publisher