reviews

Trout Hunting

Reviewed by Daniel Coleman

Trout Hunting, by Bob Wyatt. Published by Stackpole Books. 188 pages in an 8 by 10 inch format. All photos except fly photos are black and white. Available in hardcover for $39.95. Available at many fly shops and online stores (google the title and author).

ob Wyatt's Trout Hunting strikes a balance between fine prose and instruction. He touches on some of the less rock-solid aspects of the sport, ranging from trout behavior to etiquette to topics that most seasoned fly anglers have encountered and can relate to.

Wyatt intertwines helpful information and techniques with trout-chasing stories that occur in his Alberta birthplace, his current home of Scotland, and his off-season mistress of New Zealand. His tips are primarily based on observations formed from years of fishing his homewaters, such as whether or not trout learn to stay away from certain fly patterns, why the biggest fish in a stream are always caught after a rainstorm, and how to properly sightcast to big fish with dries.

Of course, these tips are his opinion and should often be taken with a grain of salt as they won't apply to all trout fishing situations, particularly in the U.S. Nonetheless, useful and thought-provoking ideas can be gleaned from Trout Hunting. If anything, the book gives U.S. anglers a taste of trout fishing from across the pond, where they certainly do some things differently--such as kill fish.

Wet flies fished with a downstream swing is the method of choice for most stream fishing on the other side of the Atlantic. Wyatt offers insights into when and why a trout hits a swinging fly, and why a non-traditional upstream presentation might be more effective. Wyatt also includes two chapters detailing stillwater fishing, which I must say, sounds like an entirely different ballgame over in the Scottish "loughs." Their approach to trout fishing is intriguing, and perhaps a there are a few worthy techniques described that American trout haven't seen yet.

Also included are chapters devoted to fly patterns and thoughts on fly design. Wyatt includes color photographs of some of his favorite patterns, which are buggy, simple, and look worth a try. The rest of the text is chock-full of superb photography; my only complaint is that the photos are black and white.

This book is suited to a seasoned angler looking for some insights that might make him or her a better trout hunter, or who seeks a perspective on trout fishing from another land, or who is just looking for tips on how to construct a simple, effective fly pattern. If you keep an open mind and don't let your opinions and observations get in the way, you'll enjoy this book.

Bottom Line: A different perspective on some fly fishing tactics, garnered from fishing on three continents. Reviewer Rating: 3

Daniel Coleman resides in Eugene, OR, where he is a biology student at the University of Oregon. He spends his summers back in his childhood home of central Oregon, guiding for Cascade Guides and Outfitters in Sunriver.

Uploaded 03/21/2005.

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