Fly Patterns for Stillwaters: Reviews

The Interior Plateau of Canada's province of British Columbia provides some of the finest stillwater trout fishing in the world. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the patterns and techniques that have been developed for the prolific lakes that clot this area have influenced fly-fishing in lakes throughout North America. Phil Rowley has been a serious student of the natural history' of these lakes for fifteen years. He has produced here an outstand-ing book filled with information; about the fish, the flies and other creatures that make tip their diets, and about their imitations and the specific methods of fishing them that have proven to be productive.
It seems hard to believe that the importance of midges, Chironomids, which at certain times of the year can constitute as much as fifty percent of a trout's diet in these and many other lakes, went unrecog-nized for so long. In 1939, Bill Nation devel-oped his Nation's Black, the first specific imitation of a Chironomid pupa that I can find any record of but it wasn't until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Dr Dick Thompson created his TD.C. (For Thompson's Delectable Chironomid) Nymph in the 1950s that interest really began to grow. This book's section on Chironomids gives some idea of how that interest has continued to increase, providing a full selection of innovative imitations for the larval, pupal and adult stages.

Chironomids, no matter how large a portion of the trout's diet they represent, are not the full menu, and mayflies, caddis, dragonflies, damselflies, scuds, leeches, beetles, terrestrials, baitfish, and even snails receive an equally exhaustive treatment. I think that particularly, in the Pacific Northwest, this book should find a place on the bookshelf of everyone who spends any amount of time fishing lakes.

Review by: Preston Singletary, Fly Tying & Fishing Journal Magazine

Our very own Phil Rowley started down his writing path years ago by contributing to this very newsletter. Since then he has honed his skills and been published in various magazines such as American Angler, Fly Tier, Fly Fisherman and BC Outdoors. He also plays an integral part in Western Flyfisher, the world's first multimedia electronically distributed fly fishing magazine, and now his first book is finally available in the stores just in time for Christmas, some 31/2 years after he began the arduous task.

On the cover is a beautiful close up photo of a prime Kamloops rainbow held just in the water, foreshadowing the many such photos featured through out. It is the photography that really makes this book stand out even to the many non-fishers I've showed it to. Everything from a hungry damsel chowing down on an unfortunate mayfly, a lone fly fisher silhouetted against the failing light of the evening sky, to the usual macro fly tying shots we've grown accustomed to over the years with Phil's Flybox, all are exceptionally well done.

The book's chapters are arranged in order of importance of the particular food group as shown in the pie charts Phil has composed based on stomach samples and use of his stomach pump. Knowing Phil's fondness for fishing chironomids and his belief that they are the first item on the menu for any lake bound Rainbow, Brookie or even Kokanee, it's not too surprising that they are the topic of the first and largest chapter of the book.

Every chapter begins with a detailed description of the food source complete with macro photos so the reader can actually see the characteristics Phil is describing. This is followed by a "Thoughts on Pattern Design" section where he points out any distinguishing features the tier should try to incorporate into the pattern while at the vice and also suggests various materials to suggest these characteristics.

Then, of course there's the step-by-step instructions for almost sixty proven stillwater patterns, his own innovative patterns and those by others. Patterns by such people as Brian Chan, Ken Ruddick, Jack Shaw, Skip Morris, Denny Rickards and the list goes on and on. Of course there's some other notable person's patterns too, such as those by Glenn Gerbrandt and Duncan Laird, with other club members names thrown in here and there through out the book for good measure. It should be noted that when Phil did feature someone else's pattern he contacted the originator and got as much information as possible as to how the fly was developed, materials to use and how to fish it. I've seen the letter sent to him by the Late Art Mikulak and the fly he sent with it, a fly tied by someone else under Mr. Mikulak's tutelage due to his own failing health. It is Phil's striving to get it 'just right" which shows through with this book

So whether you're a novice tier just getting started or an accomplished tier looking for some new patterns to try on the lakes next year, this book is one you should definitely have in your library.

Well-done Phil!

Review by: Will Wright, Osprey Fly Fishers of BC

Many fly fishermen find lakes to be vast, intimidating bodies of water. Trout are fussy, the waters are tough to read, and any number of food items could be on the menu. So what do you do?

In Fly Patterns for Stillwaters, Phil Rowley uncovers the riches lakes have to offer the patient angler. Phil has spent countless hours studying the food sources that make up the diet of trout; then set up home aquariums to more closely observe the movement, development, and emergence of these aquatic insects. In this book he explains the link between understanding the food base within a Take and designing effective fly patterns for these environs. He includes: Chironomids, scuds, damselflies, leeches, mayflies, caddisflies, water boatmen and backswimmers, terrestrials, beetles, forage fish, and snails. Fly Patterns for Stillwaters will give you the confidence you need to be a successful Stillwater angler.

Review by: Jeff Mironuk (publisher: Home Waters Magazine)

Fly Patterns for Stillwaters is a book every lake fly fisher should read. Phil's fishing knowledge, his insights into the insects, their behaviors and trout reponses to them, make for informative and enjoyable reading, as well as showing you how to tie some proven lake patterns.

Review by: Jim Schollmeyer

"Because you never stop learning"