A complete look at fly-fishing creeks and tailwaters utilizing a lifetime of on-the-stream experience through 315 brilliant photographs and 86 illustrations. First-hand knowledge of waters he's fished throughout the United States and around the world. The most effective patterns to imitate mayflies, caddis flies, midge, crane flies, and terrestrials based upon personal observation and tying experience and the best ways to fish them. Packed with solid information for fishing spring creeks from Mike Lawson's years of fly-fishing experience. Important chapters cover mayflies, caddis, midges, terrestrials, and aquatic insects. Plus, practical and proven advice on locating, stalking, playing, and landing trout and tactics for fishing dry flies, streamers, wet flies, and nymphs, from one of the best fly fishermen in the business.

Streams mentioned in the text include: Bloody Run and Spring Branch in Iowa; Ontonagon River, Escanaba River, Pigeon River, Au Sable River, Pere Marquette River, and Muskegon River in Michigan ; Whitewater River, Root River, and South Branch Root River in Minnesota; Brule River, White River, Namekagon River, Oconto, South Branch, Oconto River, Willow River, Kinnickinnic River, Wolf River, Tomorrow/Waupaca River, Timber Coulee, West Fork, Kicapoo River, Big and Little Green River, Castle Rock, Pine River, Willow River, White River, Mecan River, and Black Earth Creek in Wisconsin.

"Brilliant, innovative, iconoclastic... this superb book draws on more than thirty-five years of constant learning... about small-fly fine-leader fishing on spring creeks... invaluable to anyone who fishes such waters, anywhere." -- Nick Lyons, author of Spring Creek

Shewey has devoted his life to fly fishing and the quality of his information and photography show it. This sumptuous book featuring full color is an expert's guide to spring creek fly fishing. Everything you need to know from tackle, flies and techniques to finding the spring creek you want to fish is included. Many fly plates of the author's recommended best flies and the situations in which to use them. This book is almost as fun as the stream itself -- but it will reveal its secrets to you quickly!

* Strategies for selective trout in clear water * New patterns designed for spring creeks and how to fish them * Simple explanations of the major hatches on spring creeks across the country Spring creeks, those rare waters that flow right out of the earth--in whole or in part--are both a blessing and a curse for anglers. They are a blessing because the clear, cold, nutrient-rich waters grow abundant insects, which in turn grow and sustain large populations of healthy trout. They flow free of ice in the winter and run cool during the hottest parts of summer, providing year-round angling. In many ways, this bounty becomes a curse, because the abundance and steady supply of food can spoil the trout, making them less likely to take a piece of fluff and feathers. Many spring creeks are also small, their challenges enhanced by weed-choked runs and tricky currents. Mike Heck, expert fly tier and guide from southcentral Pennsylvania, the cradle of American spring-creek country, shares the tactics and techniques he teaches his clients to catch these tough trout. Heck includes his top fly patterns, tips on matching the major hatches of Tricos, Baetis, and Sulphurs (PMDs), and his thoughts on stealth and presentation. Whether you fish Letort Spring Run in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, or DePuy's Spring Creek in Livingston, Montana, Heck's Spring Creek Strategies will help you become a more successful angler.

Learn how to hook more trout on these crucial Western waters. Learn what types of casts to STOP making and what really constitutes a Money-Cast. Details on fly recipes, leader/tippet construction, and much more for any trout stream that holds trout anywhere in the U.S. You need both Presentation skills and Imitations for success. You can always use a local Guide, but it is more fun to learn how to guide yourself. This Manual has more information than is understood by most local guides because it is based on the knowledge of dozens of professional guides. If you stick with it, over the years, your expanded knowledge will be well rewarded. Whether you are a Novice or an Expert, there is always something here that will add to your skills.This book is NOT about "Contact" Nymphing methods (such as European nymphing) but rather "Suspension" Nymphing methods, where the "strike indicator" is really a method to suspend the nymph high in the water column, near the surface. Our methods are much more productive than the typical "dry fly plus dropper" methods, and we teach how to customize various types of strike indicators to make micro-indicators that will allow fishing the nymph only 10" or so from the indicator. These "elevated" nymphing tactics are only well-known by a few spring creek anglers and almost no tail-water anglers. Have fun, learn, and change your tactics during the day to suit the situation.