This is a book for both novice and expert fly angler alike. Hughes has a very fluid writing style which makes for enjoyable reading. He systematically covers the various kinds of insects---mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, etc.---and presents excellent color photographs to illustrate both the natural insect and corresponding fly patterns. And, for fly tiers, he gives "recipes" to tie specific patterns.

I have only skimmed the book so far, but as a novice/intermediate fly fisherman I had hoped to learn more about catching fish. Good for the entomologist!

I have only skimmed the book so far, but as a novice/intermediate fly fisherman I had hoped to learn more about catching fish. Good for the entomologist!

As a new fly tyer I find the book a terrific resourse for learning about the critters that trout daily feed on. The information has added a totally new dimension to my fly fishing.

This book is for the fisherman who wants to know what is going on underwater on trout waters. It details the life cycle of those insects that comprise the trouts diets and evolves a fly pattern to mimic each phase of insect development. This book is a must for anyone who fishes with flies.

Best book on fly fishing I have ever read. Wish someone had given me this book after I had been fishing for a year or so. Presents a lot of info in a well organized, manageable manner that is an enjoyable read. Give it to all of your fly fishing friends, but only if you want them to catch a lot more fish.

Dave Hughes has hit a homerun with this offering. Very informative! Good reading, as well as a great reference guide. I've been fly fishing for over 25 years and have accumilated quite a library of books that cover all aspects of the sport. Many books dredge over the same material over and over again. Handbook of Hatches gives a different perspective at choosing the best fly for a particular situation. Imitative vs. impressionistic. When and where to use each.
My copy stays in my Jeep, ready to be thumbed through during a break to help me solve any trout food issues that I may be encountering. It has proven to be a fine streamside guide that myself and my fellow fly fishermen have gone to many times.

Hughes writing style is both clear and energetic, and he gives very useful information!

This is far more than an introduction to the entymology, the context, and the how-to instruction to identifying, tying and fishing with flies that match the hatches. Clearly written and well illustrated with color photography, Handbook of Hatches is a pleasure to read and reread. Food here for the novice and for the experienced fly fisher.

This is a great book to refer to when trying to tie your own flies. It avoids getting too deep in the "bugology" and yet provides useful information. For someone like me who did not know many bugs started off in the water, this was both eye opening and entertaining. If I had to suggest an improvement I would suggest that the fly recipes be closer to the mentioning of the fly. In a few instances I would read about how a specific fly was very good to use in certain conditions but would then have to dig around to find a picture and recipe of what the author was talking about. It is a nit and not worthy of dropping this great work to four stats.

Very well written, gave me (a novice) a lot of good information about what trout eat and where to find them. I especially liked the comparison with a real fly and then a picture of a tied fly. Great, I would recommend this to anyone novice or very experienced.

The strength of this book is its approach at SIMPLIFYING your selection of trout patterns. Hughes' basic contribution is to make the point that bugs of specific families (e.g. mayflies, caddisflies, etc.) can all be matched by the same fly style. All that needs to be changed to match the natural is color and size. For example, a parachute style fly can be used to match BWOs, PMDs, Hendricksons, and any other mayfly. What needs to vary is just the color and size.

The other helpful point from this book is the idea that basic pattern designs should be chosen to match water conditions, not specific hatches. For example, Catskill flies for rough water, Comparadun style for smooth water, Parachute style for water in between. This is in contrast to selecting pattern designs for specific bugs (e.g. comparadun for a BWO).

The true value of this book is the focused clarity on selecting and tying patterns for a simplified fly box. I think this book will be useful for beginners confused by the vast array of available patterns, and for more advanced anglers looking for clarity and simplicity in their pattern selections.