Really Great bug book?

[drabo2000]

Hi,

I am looking for a great (not just good - ha ha) fly fishing bug book. I have several of the small handbooks that list a lot of bugs and pair them with appropriate flies, but I am looking for a book - preferably larger format - that is strong primarily on identification of bug species on rivers and lakes, e.g. a moth-like bug flitting back and forth just above the surface of the Owens in October - what is it? should I ignore it? fish the surface or subsurface? Suggested fly and technique? Book focussed on the western US.

thanks!
Steve P.

[NorcalBob]

I found this book to be very valuable.
The Complete Book of Western Hatches: An Angler's Entomology and Fly Pattern Field Guide
by Rick Hafele, Dave Hughes
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-We ... 0936608129

[Ants]

I have been looking for a similar type bug identification book myself, but have not had any luck finding one.

However, thanks to Dave Hughes (a coauthor in prior reply), another suggestion is Essential Trout Flies. Hughes breaks down fly tying into 31 indispensable pattern styles, (for tying purposes) and then gives descriptions about why a variation on a style may be useful as well as giving technique tips on using the flies. It is logical that if the insect and representative fly are important (commonly found), then it is covered in the book.

The difficulty for me bug identification books is that 80-90 percent of the insects are not relevant to fly fishing since they are only found unlimited numbers and less than predictable timing and could easily be superseded in feeding preference by longer and more dominant hatches / occurrence.

In practical terms, once you get to the point (it comes very quickly) where you can tell the difference between a midge, a caddis, a mayfly and a grasshopper, then Essential Trout Flies will lead you to the flies to use. The scientific name is less than useful, the general size and color and type of insect is the key.

Ants

[fly addict]

I use to try and figure out what fly to use that would match what bugs are in the water. I carried 4 or more fly boxes but It seems like I never had the right fly and that was why I didn’t catch many fish.
Now I just carry and use a couple of simple flies that always seem to work wherever I fish. I also rarely use more than one fly at a time!

If you tie, you can't go wrong with nymphs made of Hares ear and or Pheasant tail, add whatever else you like!
I don't know if this will work for you, but it made my time on the water a lot more productive and fun...

You might like to read this, http://www.flyfisherman.com/fly-tying/y ... z4GwgSsXrH

[DarkShadow]

I've found these of great use:

https://www.amazon.com/Matching-Hatch-P ... rn+hatches

https://www.amazon.com/Hatch-Guide-West ... rn+hatches

and

https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Food-Fisher ... ly+fishing

[planettrout]

I have yet to find one comprehensive bug book that covers all Western Hatches. If one is interested in the primary hatches in the Eastern Sierras, I would still use Steve Schalla's Chart on his site:

http://stevenojai.tripod.com/hatchEast.htm

Another good resource is the Entomology section at Westfly:

http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/entomol ... logy.shtml

I keep adding books to my library and have found that both of these are standards and "must haves":

https://www.amazon.com/Western-Mayfly-H ... 1571883045

https://www.amazon.com/Caddisflies-Gary ... 0941130983

If a bug makes it's way into your alcohol filled vial:

https://www.amazon.com/Design-Fishing-I ... B00VNVMVNY

... and help is needed in it's identification, try here:

http://www.troutnut.com/hatches

...and about that "moth like" critter seen on the on the Owens. What size and color was it???


PT/TB

[drabo2000]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!!

I think the primary problem is that I am not quite sure what I am looking for.
I have many of the suggested books - but not all, thanks. Has anyone read the new Bug Book or Hafele's 2006 book on nymphing
western streams? I have been burned by Hafele videos (too basic) so am reluctant to buy one of his books.

Thanks to Mark for the comments on doing just fine with 1 or 2 flies (I assume he is referring to his Frenchie
and Walt variations) and the link to Chouinard
and his return to simpler fishing. I have been fishing the FFF Kern Tourney for 6 or 7 years and was able
to do quite well Euro nymphing with generic Frenchies, etc but for now catching lots of fish is not my main aim.

Let me try to define what I want - maybe it's evolving with this thread.

I can often catch lots of fish with Euro without knowing much of anything about what's happeing
in the river - I want to know what's
going on in the river. More about nature. Why did I catch 40 fish instead of 2 or vice versa? Could I have done just
as well with 3 or 4 other flies, fly stages, and/or techniques. Is there a resource that explains how
to troubleshoot a "bad" day - could I get all my 2's or 0's to be 20's? Different flies, diff technique, bigger or smaller,
diff color, etc? But with changes driven by knowledge of what's happening in the river and
how fish react rather than a set system.

Maybe I'm interested in more "tricks" too that are observation based - when you see this, this is what's happening so this is what
you can try. Fish Food by Cutter discusses a few oddities - the "Cut Bug" - dragons mowing down bugs, forgot
the whole story. And why he would pick a size 12 dark gray bird's nest to fish the world over
if he had to pick just one fly - rationalized via bug knowledge.

Sorry to ramble, but when I see the book I need, I'll know. ha ha.

Tim - the "moths" seemed very light in color, and "yuge" - 1" from head to tail. If I had
to guess, I would say they were egg layers though I never saw them actually touch the water surface.

Thanks,
Steve P.

[fly addict]

Steve,


You probably already know this anyway, but it might be useful for others on this forum.
Get a dip net, thermometer, and a pocket notebook to use while on the water. Use them several times a day and keep track of what you observe in a notebook, a camera also comes in handy for future reference. You will notice when there are lots of insects in the water column and actually flying around the fishing should be good. Over time you will see patterns emerge that will help with the technique and flies you should use.


I don’t get too involved in what is going on with the bug life in the streams anymore as long as I’m catching fish. I do like to turn over rocks and take water temperatures just to see what lives there and in what kind of numbers, but it doesn’t really contribute to my decision on what fly to use unless the fishing is really slow.


There are days when the fishing is just off the hook and it doesn’t matter what you’ll use you will catch fish, and others where it doesn’t matter what you use nothing works and it seems as if the water is devoid of fish!

[Ants]

Mark is much more adept with being successful with nymphing and a few attractor style flies. I have experienced sessions with similar success, but despite the number of fish, I still feel like I am a 'one-trick-pony'.

Besides, I accumulated a diverse series of rods and gear and flies to fish techniques from nymphing to dries to streamers to wet flies / flymphs. So, at times, I just grab a random fly box (even batter if it someone else's flies) and try to see I'd I can make it work.

The point I am trying to make is there many diverse ways to approach fly fishing. The bug identification / match hatching has been one of my least favorite.

I think the responses have been great and the broad range has been covered.

Have fun choosing your next approach. It may change quickly.

Ants

[planettrout]

" Tim - the "moths" seemed very light in color, and "yuge" - 1" from head to tail. If I had
to guess, I would say they were egg layers though I never saw them actually touch the water surface."

If it wasn't this, I would need a photo to help with identification:

http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/870



PT/TB