THE DRY FLY and FAST WATER: Fishing with the floating fly on American trout streams, together with some observations on fly fishing in general. By George M.L. La Branche. With an Introduction by Paul Schullery and illustrations by Ernest Lussier.

(1914) 1998 new edition. 8vo paperback. Pp224. Colour plates of flies, colour and b/w photographs, new b/w illustrations by Ernest Lussier.

"This remarkable caster [La Branche] cast the fly in places which it would be extremely difficult to drop a worm, under overhanging alders and blackberry bushes, around trunks of trees, casting at will on particular leaves that the fly might drop thence like a caterpillar from an oak leaf. His fishing is smooth and entirely effortless ...Briefly, Mr. La Branche is a very beautiful fisherman." Fishing Gazette. A fine, new edition of one of the great classics of American flyfishing literature: not merely a reprint, La Branche's text has been reset and augmented with new material such as illustrations by Ernest Lussier and explanatory diagrams demonstrating La Branche's descriptions of his casting techniques. Also included are a 3,000-word critical essay by Paul Schullery, colour plates of flies newly tied from La Branche's patterns, contemporary photographs of the author, his tackle and his waters, and an important selection of letters exchanged by La Branche and G.E.M. Skues. Chapters include: Introductory essay by Paul Schullery; The value of observation; The rise; Where and when to fish; The imitation of the natural insect; Some fancies - some facts; The point of view; A few patterns of flies. Appendices include: Casting the curve; Selections from [the] Skues - La Branche correspondence, 1925-1947; Insects imitated by La Branche flies.