Reading Trout Water

I have the first edition of this book (called "Reading the Water" (1988)) - which you can still find on Amazon, I don't know why - and while the text of it is fantastic, the diagrams and especially the photos leave a lot to be desired (perhaps in 1988 it would have been two expensive to publish a full-color book for what was then a very specialized field). I mean, seriously, the photos are black and white and of such low quality that they're pretty much useless. On top of that, the photos tend to be laughably irrelevant: The one on page 65, for example, is in the chapter called "Reading Riffles" and is simply a photograph of a guy _releasing_ a fish _near_ some riffles! That was the photo that made it clear to me that Mr. Hughes, who writes almost brilliantly about how to read the water and fish for trout, clearly didn't have a photo editor - or at least didn't have one who understood how to properly use photos in such a book.Anyway I was reading my copy of the 1988 book and decided that despite it's graphical shortcomings, the information was pure solid gold, and so I bought another copy for my friend, a 'rising' trout fisherman (yuck yuck) who I felt had enough experience to really get what Hughes is teaching. Lo and Behold, I get the 2nd edition in the mail (now called "Reading Trout Water" - a more accurate title actually) and whoa! Color photos! Better diagrams! Wow!I bought a second copy of this 2nd edition for myself even though I have the 1988 edition.This is simply an excellent tutorial on what clues to look for on the surface of the water to catch trout under it, and why the trout are there, as well as what type of flies (dry, wet, nymphs) to use and why trout like them. It also delves somewhat into what kind of insect life populate trout rivers.I think this book would make a lot more sense to a fisher-person who already has some experience fishing, but even a beginner would get a real good idea of how to fish trout on a crick, stream, or river.

I already had the 1.edition of this book and found it ok, but lacking more examples.When I got to know about the second edition and it's addition of diagrams and pictures I thought I just had to buy it.A long review made short: Great!The 2.edition has excellent diagrams which together with the text explains where the water is most likely to hold fish, or most probably not.Both editions are well structured and has focus on reading the water. It does this really well and does not mix in too much about other topics, though it has some chapters on e.g. casting and river entomology. I find these to be just perfect with references to books on those topics as well.Reading the water could be a mystery, but the book classifies water(river, stream, creek) and lies(primary, holding...), and also types of water like runs, riffles, pools etc...For each of these the book explains where the water is most likely to hold fish and why.The book also quite well explains how to classify they water yourself and from there it becomes more easy to understand how to approach e.g. a riffle.Explaining why e.g. size of insects differ from riffle to runs are interesting. Also the text on why it is probably good feeding lies after a non holding shallow riffle(since insects get washed down into the run/pool).All in all I do really recommend it.

I am working to learn more about this kind of fishing after retiring and moving to a part of the country where these techniques are essential. Although I give it four stars because there is much useful information contained in the book this information is diluted by a lot of unnecessary story telling and other ruminations. I bought the kindle version so the small pictures can be enlarged to full screen to help decipher them--I can't imagine getting much out of them in the printed version. The pictures are small and taken from very low angles on the stream so that the locations where fish symbols are placed representing where fish would most likely be holding are not made particularly clear. I would think an associated diagram or satellite views (many areas have one meter coverage which, in larger rivers, could be made useful) would add much to the understanding of the authors points. Still, there is a lot of good information in here, just takes a bit of effort to extract it.

As a lifelong fly fisherman, I was looking for a book on reading the water for my adult son to help on an upcoming trip to a big western river. It worked as I hoped it might. This book was studious enough for a serious fisherman to learn new things and had great pictures to help engage a beginner. You could easily check out the pics to get the point and also read carefully for the full explanation if wanted. Well done!

This book opened my eyes. Now I see creeks and streams in 3D.Before the book, I wandered the stream, trying to scope out the trout, just looking at the surface. Now, as gently instructed, I see the water from the bottom up. This book will also help when fishing the Salt. You look at ALL water differently!I was once perched on an overhang on the Arkansas below Salida CO watching very large Brown Trout holding in a long, wide and shallow 2’ riffle with no structure of any kind, just a cobble bottom. Now I know why they were there!Buy the book and experience the waters you fish in 3D!

I've liked both of the books I've read by Dave Hughes and have more that I've purchased and will be reading soon. They always well written, easy to understand, and have a wealth of useful information. My only complaint with this book is that I bought the Kindle edition and for some reason, the app crashes constantly when trying to read it. I have several other Kindle books and this is the only one that has this problem. I've opened a case with Kindle support and still don't have a fix, thus my recommendation to buy the hard copy. If it weren't for this issue, I would give it 5 stars and would immediately up my rating if they can get a fix for this issue.

I have read a few fishing books of late, to try and elevate my status as a Trout Fly Fisher beyond that of an intermediate. Reading trout water is by far the best book i have found so far, although to be fair, the choice on Kindle is limited. Although the author does reiterate the needs of trout time and time and time again, he can be forgiven; i feel he is just trying to hammer home the point of - if the water meets the needs of trout, then trout thar'll be. I for one have 'shelter / protection / food' burned into my brain now and in all honesty, i feel better prepared for my next fishing trip. Furthermore, in his book he actually has images of fish superimposed onto photographs showing exactly where he thinks the fish will be and sometimes, exactly where the fish was caught. This might seem a little simple to some fishermen but for me, it just helped to explain in easy terms, what could of taken a thousand words. Cheers Mr Dave Hughes, i felt i have learnt some valuable lessons in reading your book and enjoyed myself in doing so. I now look forward to next year when i can once again forage in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, searching for those elusive but oh so beautiful wild 'Brownies'.

Libro molto ben fatto con esaurienti spiegazioni sull'argomento, molto ben illustrato, per principianti ma anche per pescatori esperti che spesso tralasciano particolari nella ricerca del pesce e di come lui si comporta.

I have been a fly fisherman for over 65 years and I found much in this book to use. Mr. Hughs' insites and in-depth explanations are golden for the beginner and a great resource for more experienced fisher persons as well.Mr. Hughs' knowledge of entymology is well known and respected in fly fishing circles and this book puts an exclamation mark on that fact.The completeness of the coverage of the subject matter is admirable and I'll most certainly take the information provided and put it to good use in my own fishing pursuits.

Mr. Hughes as the ability to take you with him on the river, reading his book, you almost ear the soft soumd of the water ! The way he analyses and shows you the trouts water is simply incredible and very easy to understand. Buy that wonderfull boock and go fishing.

Le produit m'a été livré dans le délai prévu. La qualité mentionnée était exacte. Je suis très satisfait et je recommande fortement ce vendeur. Excellent sur toute la ligne !