fly fishing entomology books

[BTbandit]

Are there any good entomology books out there anyone would recommend? I'm looking to try to learn a little more about bug ID for tying.

 

[Darryl]

There's quit a few actually. Hatches II by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi, Caddisflies by Gary LaFontaine, Pocket Guide to Pennsylvania Hatches by Charles Meck, and Handbook of Hatches by Dave Hughes are some really good ones. There's many others as well and I'm certain some other folks will chime in with them.

 

[afishinado]

A basic book that includes all the major PA hatches of mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies is Pocketguide to PA Hatches by Meck & Weamer. That would be the first book I buy.
http://www.amazon.com/Pocketguide-Pennsylvania-Hatches-Charles-Meck/dp/0979346053

To study the insects in much more detail try Hatches II by Caucci & Nastasi for mayflies
http://www.amazon.com/Hatches-II-Complete-American-Streams/dp/1592283225

and Caddisflies by Gary LaFountaine
http://www.amazon.com/Caddis-Flies-Gary-Lafontaine/dp/0941130983

and Stoneflies by Swisher and Arbona
http://www.amazon.com/Stoneflies-Fred-Carl-Swisher-Arbona/dp/0876913273

 

[JeffK]

Those are all good choices. Mayflies by Arbona is also a good text on mayflies.

Caddisflies by Gary Lafontaine is the bible for caddis.

 

[teacreekfreak]

yeah, if you are just using it for tying purposes, paul weamer and charles meck's pocketguide gets my vote, ive actually given away two copies to guys just starting out

 

[BTbandit]

thanks guys.The pocketguide to pa hatches sounds like a good one with the pictures of the bugs and flies to imitate them.

 

[lv2nymph]

Aquatic Entomology ( the fisherman's and ecologist's guide to insects and their relatives) By: W Patrick McCafferty
Mayflies ( an anglers study of trout water ephemeroptera) By: Malcom Knopp & Robert Cormier
For excellent pics of mayflies for tying:
Mayflies By: Ted Fauceglia

 

[OldLefty]

It is my opinion that the best reference for mayflies is the book by Fauceglia titled "Mayflies." It is the only reference to include photos of the nymphs, duns and spinners of all major eastern mayflies. The patterns included in the book can be used as a guide. A tyer would be encouraged to tie patterns using the photos of the real critters as a reference.

Disclaimer: several of the patterns appearing in the book were tied by Dave Rothrock

 

[WildTigerTrout]

OldLefty wrote:
It is my opinion that the best reference for mayflies is the book by Fauceglia titled "Mayflies." It is the only reference to include photos of the nymphs, duns and spinners of all major eastern mayflies. The patterns included in the book can be used as a guide. A tyer would be encouraged to tie patterns using the photos of the real critters as a reference.

Disclaimer: several of the patterns appearing in the book were tied by Dave Rothrock

I bought the book anyway. :lol: Seriously though I agree with Dave, "Mayflies" is a good book and a great reference. Sorry Dave I could not resist. ;-)

 

[rrt]

I agree with those who advise getting Fauceglia's "Mayflies." IMO, it is the best guide to mayflies in PA. The advantage of the little Meck/Weamer pocket guide is that it also includes caddisflies, stoneflies, and others. It would be very helpful. Really, if you get ahold of these two books, you should be able to match any significant PA hatch.

 

[tomgamber]

there is an app for that... "the Hatch 2" its free for ipod and iphone. not all encompassing by any means but not overwhelming either. you can just poke around it and learn a lot.

 

[ThePreacher]

I like the Streamside Guide books by **** Probst, Trout Stream Insects and The Caddisfly Handbook (this one with Carl Richards). They are easy to carry and the illustrations are good and accurate. They are not region specific, but if you travel and fish at all they are useful.