10 Fly Fishing Books to Read this Winter

In today’s world, Instagram reels and short-form content dominate the landscape. Sure, they are engaging, but at the end of the day, what are you really getting out of it? A brief escape from reality? A quick dopamine hit? While fly fishing makes up a small subsect of fishing as a whole, it has been intertwined with literature since its early days. These fly fishing books tell a story, one of the intricacies of fly fishing and the time spent on the water that social media simply can’t do.

As the great David Thoreau once said, “Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” Perhaps this is why fly fishing literature is so popular. While many go fly fishing to catch a fish, the feeling you get on the water can be linked to the success of fly fishing books. Great writers like Tom McGuane, John Gierach, and Monte Burke articulate the feeling of fly fishing, the task at hand, and the comfort fly fishing brings many in a masterful and relatable way. More often than not, I’ve read fly fishing books only to realize the way an author crafted their words described a specific feeling and moment on the river I had failed to articulate.

This winter, we thought it was only fair to share some of the greatest works we read in hopes of inspiring other anglers. These works highlight some of the best storytelling and technical information in fly fishing. So find a comfortable seat and dive into the best fly fishing books ever published.

Fly Fishing Books to Read this Winter:

If fly fishing had a bible, Trout Bum could very well be it. Written by the late John Gierach, it should be at the top of every fly angler reading list. For many, the notion of becoming a trout bum is an idyllic fantasy. But, for Gierach and his friends, this is the life they lived in the rocky mountain west. This collection of short stories follows his adventures in a humorous and telling way. For the fly angler, each story opens the door to the reasons behind fishing and life in general. No fly fishing library would be complete without a copy of Trout Bum.

In the late 70s and early 80s, anglers discovered a new type of tarpon fishing. Far from the popular tarpon grounds of the Florida Keys, Homosassa, FL, became a hub for guides and anglers. In Lords of the Fly, Monte Burke shares the stories and characters that called this place home in search of “The Fish”—the first 200 lb tarpon landed on fly. This unique moment in fly fishing history changed the world of saltwater fly fishing forever. While Homosassa is far from what it once was, this book should be at the top of every saltwater angler’s reading list.

The newest book to make this list is Calling After Water: Dispatches from a Fishing Life by Dave Karczynski. In this book, David—a true traveling fishing bum—reflects on his travels and experiences with lyrical prose. He carefully walks the line of reflecting on moments without telling the reader how to feel, leaving that up to your interpretation. Along the way, he recounts stories from far-off places like Patagonia and the Bohemian highlands while also telling stories from his native state, Michigan. Don’t believe us? Just check out this excerpt from Dave’s annual Muskie Camp, and you’ll understand his masterful use of prose and storytelling to convey his message.

You may know the name Andy Mill from his podcast, Mill House, where he dives into the stories and legends of the fly fishing world. Yet, decades before the podcast, Andy established himself as one of the greatest tarpon anglers of all time, winning five Gold Cups, a Don Hawley, and a Golden Fly. His book, A Passion for Tarpon, dives into the history and techniques required to be a successful tarpon fly angler. In many ways, it is a love letter to tarpon, the fish Andy holds near and dear to his heart. It is packed full of incredible imagery, tips and techniques, and the history needed for a masterclass in all things tarpon.

The release of the film A River Runs Through It in 1992 inspired a generation of new anglers. This coveted boom gave fly fishing a new life, fueled local fly shops, and, in many ways, shaped the sport to where it is today. Including the fallacies of “shadow casting,” the film, like others, does not do Norman Maclean’s work justice. A pivotal part of modern fly fishing history, every angler owes it to themselves to read A River Runs Through It.

Joe Humphreys is a legendary figure in the northeast fly fishing culture. At 96 years old, he is still out on the water catching fish. Humphreys is credited with a number of tactics, flies, and even starting the fly fishing club at Penn State. His book, Joe Humphreys’s Trout Tactics, is filled with information every angler should know when seeking to become the best trout angler they can be. Many of his techniques, like tight line nymphing, have been popularized today, so why not learn from the master of nymphing himself?

Kelly Galloup is synonymous with the streamer revolution. If you’ve ever tied on an articulate streamer in search of a big brown trout, you can thank Galloup for that. His work in fly design and streamer fishing techniques is other-worldly. Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II covers everything a curious angler needs to effectively fish streamers and consistently produce trophy-sized fish. From stripping cadences to fly patterns and where to locate these fish, you’ll leave reading this book ready to find the biggest trout in any river. Just be careful, you may become a streamer junkie. 

If you’re snowed in and thinking about summer fly fishing escapes, give Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die a read. This book, as the title implies, covers 50 places to fly fish across the globe. Author Chris Santella explores the places, techniques, and access needed to hit the road in search of wild places and wild fish. Whether looking for inspiration or on a quest to chase fish around the globe, the vivid descriptions and incredible imagery will keep you hooked.

Tom McGuane is widely regarded as one of the best American writers of all time, but at heart, he is an angler. Part of the 1960s Key West revolution, McGuane helped pioneer early tarpon fishing, as seen in the YETI film All That is Sacred. His book, The Longest Silence, showcases his love for fly fishing and incredible prose through a collection of fishing essays. While McGuane has written other great works, The Longest Silence is likely his purest fly fishing book and one that all fly anglers can relate to.

The last book on our list, Hatches II: A Complete Guide to the Hatches of North American Trout Streams, is exactly what it sounds like. This all-encompassing guide to all things bug life is written by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi. For anglers looking to up their knowledge and implement it on the vise, there is no greater book out there. The book features hatch charts, identification guides, and mayfly life history that would make the most senior biologist proud.

Final Thoughts

Fly fishing books are rich with stories, metaphors, and information spanning generations of anglers. Regardless of what you fish for or how, many of these works transcend the act of fly fishing, offering readers the opportunity to reflect on their own journey. This list is not all-encompassing but highlights some of the works we think are worth reading. Give them a read and check them out this winter, they may just inspire the next chapter of your fly fishing journey.