THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604190630
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: BOOK REVIEW
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Fly Fishing the Tidewaters is a marvelous compendium of lore and instruction on salt-water fly fishing. Author Tom Earnhardt is an environmental lawyer and professor who has been fishing around the globe for 35 years.
Earnhardt writes for three groups of fishermen: ``freshwater fly fishermen with trout, panfish or bass experience. . . . the angler with significant experience in salt water with other tackle, but no familiarity with fly-fishing gear . . . (and) nonanglers who have never fly fished or been interested in salt water fishing with other tackle.''
All three are well served by this amply illustrated coffee-table book.
Earnhardt covers fishing locales from Maryland to Florida, including Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay from Cape Charles to Cape Henry. He thoroughly discusses tackle, knots, leaders and flies, and lists five essential accessories - polarized glasses, a hat, pliers, a hook file and a rain suit, while strongly recommending a ``shooting basket'' (designed to hold loose line as you fight the salt-water biggies), footwear and safe-release devices.
He ``reads'' the water, delineates casting technique and stresses information about tides and the food chain. His endorsement of chumming may disgust fresh-water purists and his use of longer shock tippets than are allowed for game-fish records may surprise. But his book generally has value for anyone interested in fly fishing.
- BILL ROACH by CNB