Craig Mathews

Together, these anglers have nearly 200 years of fly fishing experience. They've tried -- and refined -- it all, so you can catch fish -- anywhere, any time, with just one type of fly. Angling afficionados and authors Chouinard, Mathews, and Mazzo join together again to reveal the secret to successful fly fishing: the pheasant tail fly. In Simple Fly Fishing (Patagonia, 2014; 2018), they made the case for replacing unnecessary gear with knowledge and technique. Now, after years of continuing to experiment and simplify, they offer the next step: the feathers that can be used to tie any kind of fly: nymphs, dry flies, emergers, and beetles. Conceived as an advanced follow-up to Simple Fly Fishing, Pheasant Tail Simplicity focuses on essential fly patterns that all share one critical ingredient—pheasant tail. The book explores the techniques required to tie and present these flies to trout, anadromous, and saltwater species. More than just a guide, it challenges the industry norm that thousands of fly patterns are necessary to catch fish. Instead, it distills fly fishing to its core: one shared fly tying ingredient, a handful of techniques, and a mindset that prioritizes knowledge, craft, and creativity over all else. The book includes 17 detailed fly recipes, with ingredients lists and step-by-step photos. Then they tell how to use this one type of fly to catch any kind of fish. In concise text, with instructional photos throughout and QR codes that link to how-to videos for tying and fishing with these flies, this book and its techniques force you to rely on your skills and to be creative to be successful. You will catch fish as you never have before.

This fine little guidebook to the best fishing in Yellowstone Park discusses aquatic and terrestrial insect emergences and activity periods, fly patterns to imitate these insects, and effective fishing techniques. Included are specific locations, access points and trailheads, distances, and terrain descriptions. The handy icons located at the beginning of each of the more than two hundred waters discussed provide helpful, at-a-glance information about fish type, ease of access, and wildlife to watch for. This book is required reading for any fly fisher planning a trip to Yellowstone Park - an area that holds more wild trout water for its size than anywhere else in the world. Includes both color and B&W photos and illustrations throughout.

When it comes to fly fishing, simpler is better. Modern-day fly fishing, like much in life, has become exceedingly complex, with high-tech gear, a confusing array of flies and terminal tackle, accompanied by high-priced fishing guides. This book reveals that the best way to catch trout is simply, with a rod and a fly and not much else. The wisdom in this book comes from a simpler time, when the premise was: the more you know, the less you need. It teaches the reader how to discover where the fish are, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. Then it describes the techniques needed to present a fly at that depth, make it look lifelike, and hook the fish. With chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, its authors employ both the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear to cover all the bases. Illustrated by renowned fish artist James Prosek, with inspiring photographs and stories throughout, Simple Fly Fishing reveals the secrets and the soul of this captivating sport. Winner, Guidebooks, Banff Mountain Book Competition 2014