Book 3

Fly Fishing the Madison

by Craig Mathews and Gary LaFontaine

Published 14 September 2001
Flowing from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks, Montana, where it joins the Jefferson and the Gallatin to form the mighty Missouri, the Madison River is one of the most famous, but also one of the most complicated, trout rivers in North America. This river can have different insect hatches every fifty yards, and ranges from a glassy, spring-fed stream to a tumbling torrent filled with rapids. Its complex variety of waters and habitat defies conventional fly-fishing techniques. In Fly Fishing the Madison, fly shop owner, guide, and noted author Craig Mathews demystifies the river, offering valuable insights and advice to first-time visitors and veterans alike.
Covering the various sections of the river, fishing conditions likely to confront you in all four seasons, various insect hatches-including the famous salmon fly-along with a list proven fly patterns and tying recipes for sixteen of the best, Fly Fishing the Madison will prove invaluable to all fly anglers planning to fish this spectacular waterway.

Eric Peper grew up fly fishing the Beaverkill and learned its ways from some of the Catskills' greatest anglers, including Walt Dette, Harry Darbee, Al McClane, and Sparse Grey Hackle. FLY FISHING THE BEAVERKILL distills his vast experience into a concise, authoritative package. Peper addresses where to find the trout, what flies to use, how the seasons affect the angling, and how to avoid the crowds on this popular upstate New York river. Fly-fishing guru Gary LaFontaine went along on this foray into classic American trout fishing, using his own experience on the Beaverkill and his extensive knowledge of fly fishing to help elicit the essence of the Beaverkill experience.Included are a hatch chart of important insects, a list of popular flies for the river, recipes for several essential flies, and what Peper calls "adaptive behavior for the Beaverkill"--how to enjoy the experience. There are scenic yet helpful, black-and-white photos throughout. Anyone thinking of fishing the Beaverkill must take this essential guide along.

A must-have book for fly fishers planning to visit this famous river.

The Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park is widely know for two things: the spectacular Yellowstone Falls, and a few miles of world-class dry-fly fishing for native cutthroat trout. But for all its reputation for easy pickings for big fish, the river can be devilishly difficult, depending on the season and the fishing conditions. Those big, burly cutthroats have seen it all and, at times, they can seem downright jaded--unless you know how to fish for them. West Yellowstone guide and fly shop owner Bob Jacklin and world-renowned angler Gary LaFontaine both know how.

Calling on thirty-two years of experience, BOB JACKLIN knows the Yellowstone's fish and the fly patterns needed to fool them, its insects, and its moods, and he sets it all down in this concise, readable guide. LAFONTAINE adds what he learned in his twenty-plus years fishing the Yellowstone and shares the fly patterns he finds the most effective. Together they lead you through the river's seasons, its hatches, and its special reaches and runs.

This book is the next best thing to having Bob and Gary at your side when you fish the Yellowstone in the park.

Included are a hatch chart, a list of popular flies, and more than twenty tying recipes for the most effective patterns to catch fish in the Yellowstone River.