FLY FISHING FOR TROUT. By Bob Church and Peter Gathercole.

(1995) 2001 paperback issue. 4to paperback (189 x 247mm). Pp160. Colour photographs throughout, illustrations.

The excellent quality of more than 200 of Peter Gathercole's photographs helps make this a first-rate introduction to stillwater fly-fishing in Britain. "The authors stress that to catch trout the angler needs to have sound knowledge of their natural foods, and so they start by providing a detailed guide to the insects and other fish that make up the trout's world. They explain, with the aid of close-up photographs, how the different types of artificial fly - such as wet, dry and nymph - aim to imitate the naturals. With a practical step-by-step guide to casting, the angler is then ready to head for the water. Trout can be found in all types of water - from man-made reservoirs to large natural lakes, from chalk streams to rough, rain-fed rivers - and for each environment the angler is shown how to change his techniques to cope with prevailing conditions and insect hatches." Contents include: Imitating the trout's natural food; Types of fly; Fly casting; Lure fishing; Wet-fly fishing; Stillwater nymph fishing; Stillwater dry-fishing; Reservoir bank fishing; Reservoir boat fishing; Irish lough fishing; Small fisheries; River trout; Grayling; Catch-and-release.