Getting Started in Fly Fishing

Tom Fuller is a lifelong angler and a writer whose articles have been widely published in fishing and outdoor magazines. He is New England editor of Field & Stream magazine, and owns and operates a tree farm in Massachusetts. HOMETOWN: Belchertown, MA

AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart 1: Getting Out There1. The Start-Up KitRod, Reel, and LineLeader and TippetFliesTools: Fly Boxes, Nippers, Hemostats, Fly Floatant, Landing Net, and SunscreenWadersClothing and SunglassesVests2. Before You Wet Your LineKnots: Attaching the Leader to the Fly Line, the Tippet to the Leader, and the Fly to the TippetCasting the LineWading InDeciding Where to FishKnowing How Flies Should Look to Fish3. Your First Day on the StreamGearing Up: Planning When and Where to Go, Assembling the Fly Rod, Choosing and Attaching the Fly, Donning Waders and VestYour First Cast onto the WaterYour First Cast to a Rising TroutHooking, Playing, and Landing Your First FishChecking Your Leader, Tippet, and Fly Before Casting to Your Next FishFishing Varieties of Trout WaterQuitting Time4. Your Second Day on the StreamWatching the WaterTying on the Right Dry FlyWhen and How to Fish a NymphWhen and How to Fish a Wet FlyWhen and How to Fish a StreamerMending Line5. More About Trout and How to Catch ThemMore About TroutMore About Trout StreamsFishing in Lakes and PondsPart 2: The Art and Science of Fly Fishing6. Casting Problems and SolutionsThe Line Doesn't Straighten Out on the Backcast or the ForecastThe Line Cracks Like a WhipUnwanted Knots in the Leader: The Tailing LoopThere's No Room for a BackcastCasting Sinking Line and Heavier FliesCasting in the Wind7. More on Understanding and Imitating What Trout EatThe Foods Trout EatMayfliesCaddisfliesStonefliesTerrestrialsStill-Water FoodsForage Fish8. Presenting Flies to TroutDry Fly StrategiesNymph StrategiesStrategies for Wet Flies and StreamersStill-Water Strategies9. Trout Waters and Stream SafetyGroundwaterRising Water to High WaterFalling Water to Low WaterStream Safety—Again10. The Future of Fly FishingStream EtiquetteLocal ConservationRegional Conservation GroupsNational GroupsPart 3: Going Farther and Further11. Beyond TroutSalmon and SteelheadOther Freshwater QuarrySaltwater Fly Fishing12. Flies and Fly TyingAttractor FliesAll-Purpose FliesImitator FliesDry FliesWet FliesNymphsStreamersSaltwater FliesFly TyingTom's Terrific Twenty-Four for TroutBibliographyResourcesIndex