Serious Flyfishing with Survey Results

Rating:
Summary: Sensational nudie pix of Ephemerella dorothea!!!
Review: Finally, an author who understands the subtle eroticism of the beloved Ephemerella dorothea, the most seductive of early season hatches for late evening surface action. I have touched and tied many Pale Evening Duns, but these imitations are poor substitutes for the moist, delicate fuzziness of the genuine article. Waite is like the Hugh Hefner of entemology, exposing his mayflies in portraits of voluptuous innocence. The Miss Mayfly 1998 centerfold hangs in my garage and is a must for the serious collector. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to spend quiet evenings alone, watching the sensuous twilight flutter of their favorite hatch.

Rating:
Summary: Stimulating,fascinating,frustrating read.
Review: This book is an iconoclastic journey poking fun at what needs poking and challenging the exclusive and sometimes pompous world of fly fishing. Sometimes one will respond with delight and at other times will find the author overly bombastic. The fun of the book is the dialogue the reader ends up having with the writer in the course of agreements and arguments while working through the text. John Waite has done us a service in presenting the results of his survey in a manner which gets one's mind engaged and occasionally gets our goat. The major drawback of the book is that it at times is poorly written with many grammatical errors and poorly constructed sentences.

Rating:
Summary: Iconoclastic flyfishing advice
Review: This is a unique, apparently self-published book by a plain-spoken, opinionated fisherman who calls it as he sees it. No fancy packaging, pretty pictures and, apparently, no re-writing by a professional editor. Nevertheless, it is a well-organized discussion of tackle, techniques, tactis and ethics from a particular point of view. Reading it is like spending a day or two with a crusty, experienced fishing guide who definitely has his own way of doing things. The bottom line: focus on fishing, not tackle; worry more about leaders than high-price rods; resist the temptation to buy every "new" thing that comes along. You can agree or disagree, but you won't be bored.

Rating:
Summary: Iconoclastic flyfishing advice
Review: This is a unique, apparently self-published book by a plain-spoken, opinionated fisherman who calls it as he sees it. No fancy packaging, pretty pictures and, apparently, no re-writing by a professional editor. Nevertheless, it is a well-organized discussion of tackle, techniques, tactis and ethics from a particular point of view. Reading it is like spending a day or two with a crusty, experienced fishing guide who definitely has his own way of doing things. The bottom line: focus on fishing, not tackle; worry more about leaders than high-price rods; resist the temptation to buy every "new" thing that comes along. You can agree or disagree, but you won't be bored.

Rating:
Summary: Good, common-sense guide for new and experienced flyfishers.
Review: This is not your run-of-th-mill, how to book of flyfishing. Mr. Waite has written a no-nonsense guide for the novice as well as experienced flyfishers. His insight into rod selection, fly lines, leaders and hooks are the product of years of personal observation as well as trial and error.

Those involved in the marketing of the flyfishing industry will likely be incensed by some of the author's comments but having been a flyfisher for many years, a guide and having been involved in both the wholesale and retail of fishing equipment, he tells it like it is. The book also includes the results of an extensive survey of flyfishers from throughout the country which itself is well worth the price of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book-Highly Recommend
Review: This is one of the most interesting books I have read on flyfishing. It is not the usual rehash and rewrite of existing ideas. Some insights into the ff industry that you won't find anywhere else in print. Apparently it was sent to all the mags and never reviewed. Will be hard to find in a fishing or ff store Some how-to but in a general sense. Lots of good reflection, philosophy and observations concerning most aspects of the sport. Some good thoughts concerning industry sponsored fish and tell ff writers, DT lines, ff gimmicks etc. You may not agree with everything but he has more to say than most. I read a lot about ff and this stands out from the pack. The survey itself is almost worth the price of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Survey good, rest of book bad
Review: Worst book I ever bought. The Poll in the back of the book IS EXCELLENT. In my opinion, the rest of the book is nothing more than one man's pompous opinion. For example, in his poll of approximately 253 flyfishing experts, 71% said that the fly rod was most important element in good fly casting. The author then comments that the pollees have "flyroditis",one of his pet peeves. In another question, he asks which hand should a right handed person have their reels to be wound by. 64% of the pollees said left hand. The author's comment: "There is misunderstanding here". These are just two of many examples where the author's experience overshadows the 6,655 years combined experience of the pollees.

If you actually decide to buy this book, START by reading the poll in the back of the book (skip the author's comments). THEN start at the beginning.

I am NOT part of the flyfishing industry, other than I do purchase and use their products. After reading this book, I think I'll take the pollees' advice and keep my stiff rod and WF line and have fun.