Now, there is of course nothing wrong with The Compleat Angler. I bet that most fly anglers have never even read the book. If they had, they probably would be quite shocked to learn that Walton was not a 'fly only' angler and in fact encouraged the use of all sorts of bait, including worms and grasshoppers.

The problem with this work of the 17th century is that it probably wouldn't be read by most anglers because it was written in an old style of English which most of us simply would not enjoy reading. One copy of the book would have suited me fine!

So, what other ideas can we find that will please the fly fisher? Much of the email I receive are from those looking for ideas for someone who has just expressed an interest in flyfishing. Often, they are wondering if I would recommend particular brands and models of rods and reels. I am very hesitant to suggest one particular brand or model for a few reasons. First, there are quite a few excellent manufacturers that are providing high quality tackle. To pick just one would not be fair. Having said that, I believe that a beginner should start out with equipment that is reasonably priced and of good quality. there is no point in spending hundreds of dollars when the person may end up not enjoying the sport as much as they thought they would.

As well, there are is the problem of buying something for the angler that has just about everything they need. It is probably not a great idea to spend a lot of money on tackle, rods and reels for the person who has been fishing for years, and has already acquired much of what he/she wants. The exception of course is if the angler has picked left out a list with specific gift requests.