Many people are intimidated by the subtleties of fly casting, the myriad of flies, and the fine points of entomology, all of which make up the sport of fly fishing. Getting started does require a set of skills and knowledge about casting, fly selection, knot tying, reading the water, and tactics, and Basic Fly Fishing provides these essential facts and skills so you can get out on the water and catch fish. Subjects covered include selecting the rod, reel, line, leader, and flies to fill the trout fly box; six knots you need to know; how to choose the correct imitation at the best size to match the insects on the water and how to fish with searching patterns; how to find trout, present the fly correctly, set the hook, and play the fish. And how to expand your skills to the double haul cast, used for catching bass and pike. Also includes step-by-step photos and instructions on the forward cast, sidearm cast, roll cast, and slack-line cast. AUTHOR BIOS: Lefty Kreh has been an outdoor writer for more than 45 years and was named "Angler of the Year" by Fly Rod and Reel magazine in 1997. He lives in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Barry and Cathy Beck are renowned outdoor photographers based in Benton, Pennsylvania. They contribute regularly to magazines and recently published Fly Waters Near and Far (0811701018). Jay Nichols lives in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, and took the photos for Clouser’s Flies (0811701484). Dave Hall is a nature and fly-fishing illustrator in Glide, Oregon.