I would like to pick up a book or two on fishing. I have much to learn. I'm interested in trout fishing on streams & rivers, as well as steelhead and salmon in rivers. I am currently a gear guy, but am working toward getting a fly rod once I learn more.

I've read Dave Vedder's "Float Fishing for Steelhead: Techniques and Tackle", and am probably going to pick up his "Steelhead Jig Fishing: Techniques and Tackle". I am going to buy Les Johnson's "Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout" if my brother hasn't already picked it up. I'm curious about Timothy Kusherets' "Steelhead and Salmon Drift Fishing Secrets" as well as any books by Bill Herzog and/or Jed Davis.

I would appreciate any comments you folks have on these books, what you recommend, how they compare, etc. I'm interested in fishing for trout steelhead and salmon with any legal sporting method, except for plunking (it's just TOO dang boring for me).

Sounds to me like you've pretty well got the bases covered. If your like me, you'll pick up bits and pieces from each of those books, and also from each and every person you fish with...eventually you will have your own "style", that works for you and produces fish.

Read those, and then get out there and put those ideas into practice!

Mike

Read Herzog's book on fishing with spoons. Realistically though once you've read Vedder's books you will know all you need to know.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis into books, they are a good place to start but nothing replaces time spent fishing or otherwise gaining specific local knowledge.

Thanks for the input, everybody!

Zambi, here are some good books for fly fishing. Yes, it is always better to go out and experience the real thing but the books can help you achieve that goal faster, plus reading keeps the brain functioning just a little better.

1. 101 FLY FISHING TIPS
Lefty Kreh

2. 12 BASIC SKILLS OF FLY FISHING
Ted Peck & Ed Rychku

3. ESSENTIAL FLY FISHING
Tom Meade

4. FISHING THE FOUR SEASONS
Dave Hughes

5. JOAN WULFF'S FLY CASTING TECHNIQUES


6. CLASSIC GUIDE TO FLY FISHING
FOR TROUT

7. STEELHEAD FLY FISHING AND FLIES
Trey Combs

8. FLY FISHING STRATEGY
Doug Swisher & Carl Richards

9. UNDERSTANDING TROUT BEHAVIOR:
BRILLIANT INSIGHTS INTO HOW TROUT
ACT AND WHY
John Goddard

10. READING THE WATER
Dave Hughes


The list goes on but it;s a good place to start.

I would get Bill Herzog's Color guide to Drift fishing. Great book for learning how to read water, Color combinations and how to rig up.