Guide Books & Maps

Montana Fly Fishing & Camping Guide - Glacier to Yellowstone by David Archer

Of course I have to recommend my own book as I feel it will be a wonderful asset in helping you plan your next trip to Montana or short weekend adventure. Here's what a couple local Montanans had to say:

Editorial Reviews
Buddy Smith, Ravalli Republic, June 4, 1999
"Even anglers who 'know' Montana will benefit from the numberous fishing and camping locales detailed in Archer's guide...."

Nick Gevock, Missoulian, August 10, 1999
Archer's book is "organized...by the highway that leads them there...right to the holes."

Fishing Yellowstone National Park by Richard Parks

"Fishing Yellowstone National Park tells the angler where to go...how to get there, which species populate the lakes and streams, and what to tie on the line for the best results." Although I have numerous books on fishing Yellowstone National Park, this is the book that I found that I returned to most often.

The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide by Craig Mathews and Clayton Molinero

Another excellent guide book on Yellowstone National Park, I found this guide to be very helpful on covering both the waters to fish as well as those waters to pass up, as being either barren or poor fishing in general. Although I did not like the graphics and maps as well as Richard Parks book, I nonetheless found the book to be extremely helpful and very well organized. I especially enjoyed the hatch charts and the recommended choice of fly patterns for specific waters.

Hiking Yellowstone National Park by Bill Schneider

In addition to the fishing guides recommended above, I highly recommend this book if you plan to fish the backcountry or take some day hikes to fish some of the wonderful lakes and creeks that Yellowstone National Park offers. Like all of the Falcon guide books, this one offers excellent maps, trail conditions and what to expect from destination point to distination point.

Fishing Glacier National Park by Russ Schneider

"Russ Schneider, author and outdoor guide, has compliled information on 64 bodies of water in the park and on the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River....The book leads you to streams and lakes where you'll find kokanee salmon, mountain and lake whitefishi, artic grayling, and trout."

Hiker's Guide to Glacier National Park

More than 700 miles of trails wind and climb among Glacier's spectacular mountains. This guide describes some of the best, from day hikes less than five miles long to overnight trips traversing the high country." The maps are excellent. I highly recommend that if you purchase Fishing Glacier National Park that you also purchase this one as well. I found that the hiker's guide was the perfect adjuct to the fishing guide.

Fly Fishing the Mountain Lakes by Gary LaFontaine

Not only is this an excellent source of information for fly fishing the high country lakes, but it is entertaining as well. I have a short review of this book in the back country section. If you plan on fishing Montana's backcountry, this is a must read! If you haven't acquired LaFontaine's recognized classics, then be sure to order one or both of these books today!

Trout Stream Insects by Dick Pobst

A detailed field guide to the major trout-stream insects throughout the United States - with more than 120 full-color photographs of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. I really like this little book.

The L.L. Bean Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing by Macauley Lord, Dick Talleur and Dave Whitlock

If I had a nickel for every how-to-fly fishing book that has been published during the last 20 years, I'd be fishing around the world in some pretty exotic places. My article "Mastering the Basics of Fly Fishing" was begun hastily years ago when I was preparing an outline for an introductory course for fathers and sons. Recently I was perusing the shelves for a primer to double check that I hadn't left anything out of my article. The Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing may be an overstatement; nonetheless it is a wonderful primer for the novice or beginner. The book is divided into three sections: Fly Fishing, Fly Casting, Fly Tying. The photographs and diagrams are exceptional, and I couldn't resist adding another fly fishing book to my collection.

Rating: A+

Fly Fishing - A Trailside Guide by John Merwin

John Mervin, founding editor and publisher of Fly Rod and Reel magazine, has written a highly informative and well organized how-to guide for fly fishing. The reader will find no fluff in this book, and the illustrations and photographs are superb. The price is right too! I especially liked the Gear Talk and Tips sections scattered throughout the book, as well as the diagrams for tying knots. Mervin's voice is personal and direct.

Rating: A

Fly Fishing the Yellowstone in the Park by Bob Jacklin and Gary LaFontaine

I have been patronizing Bob Jacklin's fly shop in West Yellowstone for more than 25 years. When I pitched my book, he placed an order, but not before he made a trade of one of my books for one of his. I was lucky that day - an order for my books and a signed copy of Jack's book. What a treasure this book is for anyone fishing the Yellowstone in the park. The best part of the book, however, is the information that is applicable to any of the rivers in Montana. Jacklin and LaFontaine provide a wealth of information for river fly fishing in general and fishing the Yellowstone in particular.

Rating: A+

Bassin' with a Fly Rod by Jack Ellis

Jack Ellis, author of The Sunfishes, traces the history of fly fishing for bass as well as providing specific techniques for catching large-mouth bass. I really enjoyed reading the parts were he debunks the writers who churn out expert opinion that no one else can duplicate. Having been a fly fisher for trout all my life, this book was exactly what I was looking for in my new pursuit of bass in the Sacramento delta waters.

Rating: A