Favorite fish books

For fly fishers, winter is time for tying flies, dreaming about new gear, and reading books. The fall 2011 issue of Trout, the official magazine of Trout Unlimited, featured a story called "The Chosen Ones, The Twelve Best Trout and Salmon Fishing Books." The list was compiled with "input of readers, volunteers, TU staff and others."

No doubt, each of our personal lists would differ, depending on where we live and fish, how long we've been fly fishing, and which books we've actually sat down and read over the years.

I'm presenting the list not only for you to compare with your list but also for ideas for some good winter reading and additions to your personal library.

• "Trout" (1938) by Ray Bergman. For many years, the "bible" of fly fishing.

• "Trout Fishing" (1972) by Joe Brooks. One of the first illustrated how-to books. Mine has been opened hundreds of times.

• "The Complete Book of Western Hatches: An Angler's Entomology and Fly Pattern Field Guide" (1981) by Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes.

• "A River Runs Through It" (1976) by Norman Maclean. Required reading for any Montanan or Montanan-wannabee.

• "Steelhead Fly Fishing" (1991) by Trey Combs. Must-read for all steelheaders.

• "Caddisflies" (1981) by Gary LaFontaine. Everything you ever wanted to know about caddisflies.

• "The Curtis Creek Manifesto" (1978) by Sheridan Anderson. A collection of cartoons and light prose.

• "A Modern Dry Fly Code" (1950) by Vincent Marinaro. Importance of dry flies and terrestrials.

• "Trout Bum" (1988) by John Gierach. Popular outdoor humorist.

• "Fly Casting Techniques" (1982) by Joan Wulff. Casting techniques are tweaked as rods and lines change, but the basics remain the same.

• "Nymphs" (1983) by Ernest Schwiebert. Easy reading classic.

• "The River Why" (1983) by David James Duncan. A look into the decline of salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest.