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Fly Fishing for Striped Bass

By Rich Murphy

Filled with great color photographs and illustrations this book is destined to become a classic of fishing literature. Written by someone who has obviously spent a great deal of time fishing for and studying stripers Fly Fishing for Striped Bass is the quintessential writing on striped bass and striped bass fishing.

Rich's profession as a civil engineer carries over into his book in the level of detail that is devoted to the description of the life history of the striped bass. The first 3 chapters of the book discuss the fish's life cycle, migration patterns and timing, breeding grounds, hunting habits, food preferences, etc.

Rich is truly an innovative fly tyer with many striped bass fly patterns to his credit. Rich has often appeared at United Fly Tyer meetings as an instructor and provided tying lessons for some of his unique flies. In his book Rich provides instructions for tying some of his innovative patterns which include a squid, crabs, a skate, a lobster, and various bait fish patterns.

Chapter four of the book is devoted to Rich's striper patterns including the history behind their development and detailed instructions on how to tie them. Like the other chapters in the book chapter 4 also has many high resolution photographs of not only his flies but the bait fish and squids he is trying to imitate. 

There is a chapter on tackle for striper fishing covering rods, lines, knots, and goes into the history of tackle used for striper fishing.

The book devotes four chapters on how to fish beaches, estuaries, rocks and flats. Being from Massachusetts the author includes aerial photographs of some New England's noted striped bass fishing locations.

This is a great book that any aspiring or seasoned striped bass angler would want to not only read but study to help them catch more fish with a fly rod.

At just over 450 pages Fly Fishing for Striped Bass will provide the armchair angler or the off-season angler many hours of quality reading time about a great game fish. This is a great book for anyone interested in fly fishing for striped bass.

Publisher: Wild River Press (October 2007)

ISBN-10: 097464272X

ISBN-13: 978-0974642727

List Price = $59.95