LaFontaine Private Label Website Specials
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Every Fly-Fishing Book in Print~
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OFF
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LaFontaine's LegacyLAFONTAINE'S LEGACY
THE LAST FLIES FROM AN AMERICAN MASTER

by Al & Gretchen Beatty
with contributions from Paul & Char Stimpson

The dictionary describes the word, genius, as a person of great intelligence, who shows an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work, and is considered gifted in many subjects. Geniuses always show strong individuality and imagination, and are not only intelligent, but unique and innovative.

That description fits Gary LaFontaine to a "T": friend, storyteller, experimenter, explorer, innovator, imaginer; persuasive, immediately likable, with a steel-trap memory and his own sense of wit and humor. I swear his mind was churning 24/7 as he would keep a notebook on his bedstand and wake up in the middle of the night with the next amazing... anything & everything! But of course it was up to me to put it into action and make it all happen ;-) In his short lifetime he accomplished more than most of us can just dream of doing. Gary was considered the greatest fly pattern creator of the 20th century—and rightfully so. He developed many innovative theories including the 1981 book, Caddisflies–the complicated topic still remains untouched and it's considered to be the "bible" on the subject. He also created over 100 original & successful patterns in his lifetime. He is greatly missed by us at the Book Mailer, and the many dedicated fly fishers around the world—which we've admiringly dubbed, LaFontainatics.

Gary, his daughter, Heather, Al & Gretchen Beatty, and Paul & Char Stimpson had been working for several years on a video fly-tying series based on his patterns. It was Gary's wish that all of his patterns be published. LaFontaine's Legacy is just that—those that weren't included in Trout Flies: Proven Patterns and the ones that were developed after it's release. There are twenty-six patterns with thorough tying instructions which are accompanied by vivid full-color photographs to depict the various stages of creating each pattern on the tying bench as well as the completed fly. Carrying on with Gary's traditional writing style, Al Beatty has written and interspersed each pattern with "mostly true" anectodes and Gary stories. Thank you for such an enduring tribute to a true Master. Gary is very proud of you.

Twenty-six patterns; Step-by-step & Completed Fly Photos
Hardcover; Full Color; 7x9 inches; 128 pgs.; $27.95

 

Wilderness Adventures Press Maps
~~~~~~~River Maps~~~~~~~~

WILDERNESS ADVENTURE PRESS MAPS
~individual maps for 70 rivers across the country~

Detailed river maps covering the best fisheries in the US. Includes a brief description of the river’s character, the best seasons & techniques, a hatch chart & recommended fly patterns. Maps include GPS points for every access point, campground, boat launch & other places of interest. Also included are river miles, helpful tips on how to approach each section, roads & road names, land usage (public & private, BLM, National Forest, etc.), & important tributaries. Full-color; 11x17 inches when folded out.

 

Trout Flies for the 21st CenturyTROUT FLIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:
200 ESSENTIAL PATTERNS THAT CATCH FISH ANYWHERE, ANYTIME
by Dick Talleur

The complete guide to today’s most effective trout flies and how to tie them. Following in the footsteps of the classic Stewart & Allen fly-pattern series, Trout Flies for the 21st Century presents the 200 most effective trout patterns in use today, providing the tying recipe for each one. Author and master tier Dick Talleur covers all the major categories: dry flies, wet flies, emergers, nymphs, terrestrials, attractors, and streamers—anything trout regard as edible. Talleur has collected patterns from across the country, many from professional fishing guides, and has thrown in a ton of classic patterns in his own famously practical and beautiful style. Excellent information if you are just looking to buy the right flies, and a must-have recipe book if you can tie your own.

The one trout-fly pattern book you will ever need!

Spiral-softcover (not hardcover as listed on above link); Tying Recipes; Color Photos; 8.5x11 inches, 208 pgs.; $24.95


Raising the GhostRAISING THE GHOST
DRY FLY STEELHEAD FISHING LIKE NEVER SEEEN BEFORE
by the Fly Boys
—watch the trailer—

In September of 2007 Team Fly Boys journeyed to the upper reaches of Northern British Columbia in search of a specific strain of Wild Steelhead. These Steelhead were believed to feed on Green Drakes during a hatch. Though prolific in size, this hatch would be very difficult to locate. Even if the team were able to find the drake hatch it was still unknown as to whether or not the Steelhead would be in the river. Raising the Ghost documents the Fly Boys team as they experienced a week of searching, hoping and eventually catching Wild Steelhead on dead drift dry flies.

Legendary Steelhead anglers interweave the conservation side of this film. Mentors like Tom Morgan, Russell Chatham, Jerry Kustich, Bob Clay, and many others sit down with our team to talk about hard hitting issues pertaining to the current state of Wild Steelhead. Join Team Fly Boys as they set out on what they think might just be the ultimate Steelhead dry fly fishing adventure.

DVD; 69-min.; $29.95 (5% of the profits go to steelhead conservation)

 

20/20 Tippet Threader20/20 Magetic Tippet Threader
Don't get frustrated—get out on the stream!

—watch the video clip—

We've all been there... fish rising all around and you're fumbling with that fly, trying desparately to thread the tippet through the eye. This little device is the quick, easy answer to your suffering. It's equipped with a Strong Rare Earth Magnet that holds and aligns even the smallest flies into the correct position. From there all you have to do is push the tippet down the channel through the fly's eyelet—you could almost do it with your eyes closed!

monoMasterAwesome Tool!

monoMASTER
Waste Monofilament Storage Device
—watch the video clip—

The monoMaster is an innovative new fishing tool that is a "Must-Have" for every angler. This handy tool is small and lightweight and collects all the waste line that you generate when changing flies or rigs. Hang from a fishing vest, in your pocket, or tackle box. Whether you generate an inch or a few yards of waste, monoMaster provides an easy and environmentally sound solution. No more tangles in your waders, pockets, or tackle box. $11.95

LaFontaine Fly BoxOur fly box is back and better than ever~

LaFontaine Private Label
Hook-Lock FLY BOX

Each medium-sized box is forest green with the LaFontaine Private Label logo imprinted in gold. The lightweight, durable SAN plastic box features a tight-fitting lid; full length piano hinges with brass pines; a non-glare, slip-resistant grainenish; lanyard eyelet; and an easy-open recessed latch. $18.00

 

Tying Furled FliesTYING FURLED FLIES
PATTERNS FOR TROUT, BASS, AND STEELHEAD
by Ken Hanley

Introduces us to furling— the technique of twisting materials together. Furling has unlimited potential for creating distinctive mottled and variegated patterns to imitate some of the common (and not so common) foods that trout, bass and steelhead feed on. Hanley covers some of the common trout-stream bugs such as mayflies, caddis and stoneflies; as well as pygmy grasshoppers and dragonflies.

• First book devoted to these innovative and versatile techniques
• 20 new patterns
• 500 step-by-step color tying photos

Hanley offers insights on how to fish these patterns using techniques from standard presentations to more radical "puppeteering" to entice fish to strike.

Softcover; 500 color photos; 8.5x11 inches, 144 pgs.; $24.95

 

Advanced Nymph FishingADVANCED NYMPH FISHING
by Rick Hafele & John Smeraglio

Goes beyond the basics. Anglers will see how to rig multiple nymph set-ups including the Czech nymph system, how to cast multiple fly rigs without creating a tangled mess, how to fish nymphs with sinking lines. And how to do it all in varying types of water; including riffles, shallow and deep runs, flats, eddies, and bank water. Truly effective nymph fishing requires the ability to fish nymphs at all depths in all types of water. Rick & John show you how it's done, and how to have fun doing it!

Advanced Nymph Fishing deciphers the mystery of nymph fishing. Learn how to:

• Set-up single and multi-nymph systems to fish at different water depths
• Cast multi-nymph systems without getting tangled and mend correctly for the best presentations
• Fish nymphs at multiple depths depending on where and how fish are feeding
• Correctly play and land the really "big one."

2-disc DVD set; 130-min. (not 75-min. as described the item page); $29.95

 

Trash Fish: A LifeTRASH FISH: A LIFE
by Greg Keeler

For a boy, an obsession with fish can be a handy way to escape the trials of growing up. That's especially true for Greg Keeler, whose failings and foibles persist in marking the difference between himself and those around him—his academic parents, his genius brother, his motley friends. Time and again, he returns to the fish, who cast him a lifeline of their own.

A fantastically satirical memoir, Trash Fish tells a whole whirlpool of a story—the women, the Peace Corps, the teaching jobs, the marriage and children, and, of course, the rod and reel, the lure and the catch.

Trash Fish reveals not just the life of the author but also many truths about passion, relationships, and the flaws of human nature. Ultimately, Keeler’s fisherman must acknowledge that he can’t escape down the river bend, and that in order to experience true love, he must accept the complexities within himself and within the people on land around him.

excerpt

Softcover; 5x7 inches; 176 pgs.; $14.95


100 Best Flies for Montana Trout100 BEST FLIES
FOR MONTANA TROUT

by Thomas R. Pero

Photos by Ted Fauceglia

This is the first in a new series of pocket guidebooks. A complete collection of the 100 top-producing dry flies, nymphs, streamers, midges, terrestrials, scuds and sowbugs, emergers, and eggs for the fine rivers and lakes of Montana.

The "100 Best' where handpicked by six notable fly designers and knowledgeable anglers: John Bailey of Dan Bailey, Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies, Dean Reiner of Hatch Finders Fly Shop, Duncan Oswald of Montana Fly Company, Marty Downey of Riverborn Fly Company, and Michael Hoiness of Yellowstone Fly Goods.

Features superb close-up color photography by Ted Fauceglia of the best traditional and innovative trout flies for Montana waters.

Softcover; Full color; 5x7 landscape format, 200 pgs.; $24.95

 

How To FishHOW TO FISH
by Chris Yates

Sitting on a riverbank, with rod and line, must count as one of the most relaxing and enjoyable—yet occasionally frustrating—experiences knows to man. Chris Yates was first inspired by the discovery of a monster carp in his village pond when he was five. Many years later, he is still content to sit, day after day, observing the quirks of different fish and losing track of time. For him, fishing is much more than just a question of technique; sometimes it's about listening to nothing but your instincts, and at other times it's about enjoying the perfect cup of tea. And it's always about not knowing how the day is going to unfold.

There's no better guide for the uninitiated—and no better companion for those already familiar with the satisfactions of fishing than Chris Yates. And immersing yourself in How To Fish is almost as delightful an activity as fishing itself. From casting and reeling to whiling away the hours, this is a gem of a book that gets to the heart of our passion for angling—there's more to fishing than catching fish.

Hardcover (not softcover as described the item page); 5x7 inches, 256 pgs.; $19.95

 

Pink HouseTHE PINK HOUSE
OR, I ALMOST HAD A BITE
by David P. Dinklage

"A memoir that celebrates fishing, a life of fishing. And it celebrates all those cherished, all those cherished lost. It is a story of celebration interrupted."
David Dinklage definitely delivers on his promises, but what is most capturing is the author’s lyrical, almost poetic writing style.

This memoir follows the fisherman, Thomas Peers, from boyhood, through coming-of-age, love, marriage, profound tragedy and loss, and into old age, “quickly saw a shoofly backhand waved across the face.” Embedded in a writing style that is enriched by powerful metaphors. Tom’s incredibly full life is served up in terms of bluefish, striped bass, bonefish, redfish, and the like. Of course, as all memoirs must, The Pink House ultimate winds down into time the author refers to as “prostates and pacemakers.” However, we are not left with sadness. No, in the profoundly emotional and optimistic final pages, the author reveals what really matters. If you are partial to angling and have a penchant for lyrical style, The Pink House is a must-read.

Softcover; 5.5x8.5 inches, 247 pgs; $17.95
Sorry, this item does not qualify for our "Buy 3 or more-- books, tapes, videos -- get 10% discount"


Home PoolHOME POOL
STORIES OF FLY FISHING AND LESSER PASSIONS
by Bruce Ducker

Sixteen short stories evoke the passion of fly fishing and those who are entranced by the waters. Ducker dedicates this collection to his favorite "uncounted mountain lakes and twice as many unnamed streams" where he finds the inspiration for his fiction. His colorful stories include an exclusive trout club haunted by a beautiful female flasher, a Hasidic angler who sees into the hearts of his fishing partners, a cantankerous old man who confronts the onslaught of city development taking over his mountain, and a father who can only understand his son when they share a rare afternoon of trout fishing.

The enchantment of the water and the land fill these stories and remind readers of the magic of fishing their own home pools. Bruce Ducker is the author of eight novels, including Dizzying Heights. He has fished throughout the world, including the Rocky Mountain West. His work has been published in literary journals, fly-fishing magazines, and Gray's Sporting Journal.

Hardcover; 16 B&W drawings; 6x9 inches, 192 pgs.; $24.95


This is the most comprehensive directory of salmon flies ever published. It is the fruit of 30 years' research by renowned international fly tying author, Chris Mann. He has corresponded with countless expert salmon fly tyers throughout the world—seeking out all their most popular and enduring salmon flies, adding these to all the classic patterns. Now his research is complete.

Over 1800 salmon and steelhead flies—each one illustrated in color and with its full dressing provided—make this the definitive reference, the all-in-one volume for salmon anglers and fly tiers throughout the world. The flies are ordered alphabetically, making it easy for the reader to find the exact fly and to check the precise dressing. Mann gives a brief introduction to each fly, noting its originator when known and the reputation it has achieved. A full, cross-referencing Index is included.

Hardcover; 1800 flies in full color; 8.5x11 inches, 448 pgs.; $99.95



Fly Tying with A.K.FLY TYING WITH A.K.
PATTERNS & PROBLEM SOLVING WITH NEW MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES
by A.K. Best

These tips and techniques from master fly tier A. K. Best help you meet the challenges of today’s new tying materials. Part One addresses several common tying problems and gives solutions that every tier can use. Part Two describes new materials and patterns, explains how they differ from traditional materials, and what that means for today’s fisherman.

A. K.’s signature Quill Body flies take on new life when tied according to his directions using these new materials. Detailed photographs illustrate the step-by-step instructions for working with Bugskin, Coq de Leon, and streamers. With this book on new materials, new techniques, and new patterns, A. K. once again demonstrates his expertise as a tier and as a teacher.

Softcover; 314 color photos; 8.5x11 inches, 132 pgs.; $34.95



Lost World of Mr. HardyTHE LOST WORLD OF MR. HARDY
by Andy Heathcote

The name Hardy's has been synonymous with the best in fishing for 135 years, a name to stir the heart of many a fisherman. Independent filmmakers Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier have now made an incredible, rich film about this much loved family business and the lost art of fishing tackle.

The Lost World of Mr Hardy is a fascinating new feature length documentary that captures the people who have spent their working lives in the pursuit of perfect fishing tackle. Discover a new world of rod and reel makers still working by hand today and the magic and elegance of the world's very best fishing tackle. See long forgotten films capturing an incredible world of 80 years ago with unbelievable rivers full of enormous salmon.

Subtitles: German, French, Danish, Japanese, English (hard of hearing); Available in PAL and NTSC format.
DVD; 97-min.
; $39.95

 

New & Autographed!

Charlie Craven's Basic Fly TyingCHARLIE CRAVEN'S BASIC FLY TYING
by Charlie Craven

This book is built on Craven’s successful fly-tying classes, which start out with simple flies and work toward more complex patterns—all the while teaching techniques and introducing materials by tying popular patterns that catch fish in Eastern and Western streams. This series of lessons show how flies build on one another, enabling readers to tie a wide range of patterns simply by breaking them down into parts.

covers 17 flies (including recipes for popular variations)
Includes: the Brassie, Black Beauty, RS2, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph, Copper John, Woolly Bugger, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Adams, Rusty Spinner, Parachute Blue-Winged Olive, X Comparadun, Royal Wulff, Humpy, and Goddard Caddis.

Hardcover; 1,000 color photos; 8.5x11 inches, 288 pgs.; $39.95


Fool's ParadisBrand New & Autographed~ FOOL'S PARADISE
by John Gieach
Don't miss out~ Limited quantities! Shipping May 15th
John has graciously agreed to sign books for our special Book Mailer customers on May 12th.

Everyone's favorite fishing writer is back after three years with more fly-fishing pleasures in this lyrical, surprising book of observations on fishing, nature, travel, and life.

Gierach's fans have waited for a new book and Fool's Paradise will reel them in: great fish tales, lots of witty observations, and criticisms of all that's wrong with the world today, that is, everything that isn't fishing related and even some things that are. Everything is subject to scrutiny as Gierach weighs in on subjects as varied as cellphones and airports, pick-up trucks and secret streams. Collectible 1st edition, 1st printing.

Perfect companion~ Make sure to check out John's first interview on the DVD, Why Fly Fishing.


Why Fly FishingNew DVD~ Share with those who have never or seldom experienced the rewards of fly fishing—the reason it is your favorite past-time and why it is your passion.

Why Fly Fishing
with Joan Wulff, Flip Pallot, Nick Lyons, John Gierach,
Keith Fulsher, Diana Rudolph, Revel Brothers, James Prosek

Why Fly Fishing is a 31-minute DVD created to promote and share the grace of a sport. As a sport, fly fishing has a rich history with many of its own icons. There are some who do not understand that the passion for fly fishing easily equals or surpasses even the most fanatical "team sport" (ie: football, baseball, basketball). Fly fishing is an individual event with a level playing field which welcomes all comers. Everyone enters as a beginner, there are no age limits and progress is measured by self satisfaction. DVD; 31-min.

Don't miss the great MidCurrent review of "Why Fly Fishing"
Presented by the American Museum of Fly Fishing
Price -- $30.00 (includes shipping; $25 of the purchase price is a tax-deductible donation)

Sorry, this item does not qualify for our "Buy 3 or more --books, tapes, videos-- get 10% discount"



New Release!

Rotary Fly Tying bookROTARY FLY TYING
by Al & Gretchen Beatty

Most tiers don't understand the full potential of a rotary vise. If you don't own one, you've been missing out! If you do own one, most likely you're not using it to its full potention. Many tiers only use the rotation to see the bottom of their fliy, but the uses and advantages of a rotary go far beyond this.

The Beatty's set out to explore a sampling of true rotary vises currently available on the market, guide tiers through the sometimes frustrating adjustments needed to use them to the fullest, and share tying tips and tricks for quickly tying effective flies. Al & Gretchen have decades of experience at the vise both as tyers and teachers. There is nobody better equipped to broaden your knowledge of rotary vises and their many advantages. You will be amazed how a rotary vise will greatly increase your pleasure while tying up flies for the new season. Covers 36 patterns for fresh and saltwater with clear instructions and step-by-step photography.

Softcover; Full color; 8.5x11 inches, 116 pgs.; $24.95

also available~ROTARY TYING TECHNIQUES DVD


CUSTOM FLY-TYING DVDS
Choose from over 75 fly patterns from five of today’s top fly tyers.
You pick the patterns that you want, they're put onto a DVD,
and its delivered to you in about 5 working days.
Sorry, doesn't qualify for our "Buy 3 or more--books, dvds--get 10% discount"


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