Fly Fishing Books

It is said that more has been written about fly fishing than about any other sport. Literature about fly fishing goes back many centuries. Being a bibliophile, this is something I really enjoy about the sport. 


On Friday I had a book show at school. Twice a year Shaun of Books 2 You brings his great collection of books for the learners to browse through and buy. His books are very reasonably priced, starting at R20, about $7. He sources his books in England and the US, travelling overseas 2 or 3 times a year to buy books. While he is overseas he always looks for books on fly fishing and fly tying. So every time he comes he brings me 2 or 3 books, his prices are about 1/3 of the normal retail price. This visit was no different and the latest addition to my collection, "John Bailey's Fishing Encyclopedia," has now joined my collection.


Sales at this book show exceeded R15,000, more than two thirds of this being purchased by the learners.


Click on photos to enlarge.

Big beautiful book with big beautiful photos.

Contents page.

This book is not just about fly fishing but about all aspects of the sport, bait fishing, lure fishing, fresh water and sea fishing. 

Some of my fly fishing and fly tying books, the book on the far right is an 1897(?) reprint, on hand made paper, of the 1676, 5th edition of Izaak Walton's "The Compleat Angler," edited by, Richard Le Gallienne. This edition also includes the piece by Charles Cotton, "Being directions how to angle for trout or grayling in a clear stream." Cotton even gives direction on how to tie certain flies. 

Title page of "The Compleat Angler."

Cover of "The Compleat Angler". Good books, on any subject, never date or age, like good red wine they just improve.

Another shelf of fly fishing and fly tying books, this one is next to my fly tying desk. The shelve below has fly tying material stored on it.