Fly Fishing for Striped Bass- Rich Murphy's Book

CaptBillB · 11-08-2007, 05:18 PM

FLY FISHING for STRIPED BASS

Last Wednesday, a FEDEX delivery deposited a new book FLY FISHING for STRIPED BASS by Rich Murphy, master angler and fly tier, on my doorstep. After reading it cover to cover, all that can be said about this book is that, besides being a bible on the subject of searching out and catching Morone saxatillis (Roccussaxatilis), it delves into the biology, physiology, and history of these glorious gamefish that spend a great deal of time in our regional waters.
Rich, a native New Englander, began fly fishing for striped bass in the 1970s, when the entire Atlantic population had plummeted to around 5 million fish. Now with a vastly improved number of bass in attendance, fishing for them is an addiction for many anglers. Murphy is obsessed with catching striped bass on flies. He's made an art of it, creating an imaginative series of herring—and crustacean-imitating fly patterns that look good enough to eat. Season after season, with the runs rebounding, Rich has made it his business to greet the early-migrant bass as they arrived in the warming springtime shallows of Plum Island and follow them all summer until they depart as the storms of autumn lash the Cape Cod National Seashore. Murphy is Everyman: He doesn't use a boat yet routinely catches huge stripers from banks, flats, open beaches and rocks.
The striped bass is America’s favorite saltwater gamefish. An estimated 50 million wild-spawning stripers roam coastal beaches, bays, an estuaries from the Carolinas to Cape Cod; Montauk Point to Maine. Transplanted populations swim in San Francisco Bay. And, fishing for stripers with a flyrod, once regarded as an eccentric methodology of catching the larger specimens, is now the norm for many anglers.
His book will offer a fresh, practical look at how the average angler can enjoy this wonderful sport with a minimum of expense. Rich Murphy is a completely self-taught saltwater fly fisherman. This book promises little re-circulated, old information as it truly is an energetic exploration of new ideas and techniques. The photographs, illustrations, and graphs are interspaced with the hows, where, and whys of not only how to catch these fish but, more importantly, pays homage to the mainstay of the New England recreational fishing sector.
Fly Fishing for Striped Bass is probably the most ambitious and comprehensive book ever published on the subject. Rich Murphy, noted author and saltwater fly designer, teaches readers how to catch trophy stripers from salt-marsh banks, shallows, and sand flat, ocean beaches, and rocky shorelines. This big, absolutely beautiful book is a cornucopia of fresh, practical experience that reveals how an average angler- whether new to fly fishing or a convert from fresh water- can enjoy this wonderful pastime without a boat.
Spanning an impressive 457 pages, this stylist ‘coffee table’ book will be scanned and appreciated even by those who have no idea of what fly fishing is about. In extraordinary detail, it covers the life history and behavior (of great value to lure and bait anglers, as well), tackle and flies, casting and fishing techniques, and the importance of locating structure-specific tactics where you can locate some lunker linesiders. In addition, there’s a series of highly original watercolor diagrams that were painted for this book along with some spectacular photography including underwater shots that puts the reader right in the water with their quarry. The underwater photography is of startling clarity and the aerial views offer stunning perspectives of some famous striper habitats.
To quote Lefty Kreh, world-renowned fly caster and author of numerous fishing books, including the seminal Fly Fishing in Salt Water (1974) what makes fishing for these fish so special, “My first saltwater fish on a fly was a striped bass- I have great fondness for the species. After readying Rich Murphy’s new book I KNOW he understands stripers as well as anyone. This is the best book written on the subject to date. Anyone who chases them with a fly rod should buy it and study it. Fly Fishing for Striped Bass is filled with practical techniques, fishing lore, history of the sport, and much, much more.”
My impression of this tome echoes the sentiments of Lefty, a true master of fishing for striped bass, as this it left me in awe of the treasure trove of information that it contains. There’s little doubt that this book will become a classic reference source for those who seek to increase their knowledge of angling for striped bass. I’m far from being a stranger to catching these gamefish using a wide variety of tackle and, without hesitation, without reservation state that Fly Fishing for Striped Bass offers a graduate course in regards to the amount of practical information it offers for anyone who ever desires to capture trophy stripers consistently using the ‘willow wisp’ approach to angling. With Christmas approaching on the near horizon, this book would make an ideal gift for both beginning or advanced anglers seeking to improve their skills of capturing big stripers from the nearby coastal waters.
Fly Fishing for Striped Bass can be ordered from Wild River Press, 2315 210th Street SE, Bothell, Washington 98021; telephone 425-486-3638; or online at www.wildriverpress.com.

Relentless · 11-08-2007, 07:29 PM

Capt Bill,

I think you need anothe job, you have too much time on your hands after reading the book cover to cover in no time and deciphering it page by page. God I hope the big fish return early next year for Bills Sake.

Dave

74Formula233 · 11-08-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relentless

Capt Bill,

I think you need anothe job, you have too much time on your hands after reading the book cover to cover in no time and deciphering it page by page. God I hope the big fish return early next year for Bills Sake.

Dave

Nobody ever accused Bill of being "Right", and I doubt anyone will either! LOL

11-08-2007, 05:18 PM	#1
CaptBillB User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Watch Hill, RI Posts: 58	Fly Fishing for Striped Bass- Rich Murphy's Book FLY FISHING for STRIPED BASS Last Wednesday, a FEDEX delivery deposited a new book FLY FISHING for STRIPED BASS by Rich Murphy, master angler and fly tier, on my doorstep. After reading it cover to cover, all that can be said about this book is that, besides being a bible on the subject of searching out and catching Morone saxatillis (*Roccussaxatilis*), it delves into the biology, physiology, and history of these glorious gamefish that spend a great deal of time in our regional waters. Rich, a native New Englander, began fly fishing for striped bass in the 1970s, when the entire Atlantic population had plummeted to around 5 million fish. Now with a vastly improved number of bass in attendance, fishing for them is an addiction for many anglers. Murphy is obsessed with catching striped bass on flies. He's made an art of it, creating an imaginative series of herring—and crustacean-imitating fly patterns that look good enough to eat. Season after season, with the runs rebounding, Rich has made it his business to greet the early-migrant bass as they arrived in the warming springtime shallows of Plum Island and follow them all summer until they depart as the storms of autumn lash the Cape Cod National Seashore. Murphy is Everyman: He doesn't use a boat yet routinely catches huge stripers from banks, flats, open beaches and rocks. The striped bass is America’s favorite saltwater gamefish. An estimated 50 million wild-spawning stripers roam coastal beaches, bays, an estuaries from the Carolinas to Cape Cod; Montauk Point to Maine. Transplanted populations swim in San Francisco Bay. And, fishing for stripers with a flyrod, once regarded as an eccentric methodology of catching the larger specimens, is now the norm for many anglers. His book will offer a fresh, practical look at how the average angler can enjoy this wonderful sport with a minimum of expense. Rich Murphy is a completely self-taught saltwater fly fisherman. This book promises little re-circulated, old information as it truly is an energetic exploration of new ideas and techniques. The photographs, illustrations, and graphs are interspaced with the hows, where, and whys of not only how to catch these fish but, more importantly, pays homage to the mainstay of the New England recreational fishing sector. Fly Fishing for Striped Bass is probably the most ambitious and comprehensive book ever published on the subject. Rich Murphy, noted author and saltwater fly designer, teaches readers how to catch trophy stripers from salt-marsh banks, shallows, and sand flat, ocean beaches, and rocky shorelines. This big, absolutely beautiful book is a cornucopia of fresh, practical experience that reveals how an average angler- whether new to fly fishing or a convert from fresh water- can enjoy this wonderful pastime without a boat. Spanning an impressive 457 pages, this stylist ‘coffee table’ book will be scanned and appreciated even by those who have no idea of what fly fishing is about. In extraordinary detail, it covers the life history and behavior (of great value to lure and bait anglers, as well), tackle and flies, casting and fishing techniques, and the importance of locating structure-specific tactics where you can locate some lunker linesiders. In addition, there’s a series of highly original watercolor diagrams that were painted for this book along with some spectacular photography including underwater shots that puts the reader right in the water with their quarry. The underwater photography is of startling clarity and the aerial views offer stunning perspectives of some famous striper habitats. To quote Lefty Kreh, world-renowned fly caster and author of numerous fishing books, including the seminal Fly Fishing in Salt Water (1974) what makes fishing for these fish so special, “My first saltwater fish on a fly was a striped bass- I have great fondness for the species. After readying Rich Murphy’s new book I KNOW he understands stripers as well as anyone. This is the best book written on the subject to date. Anyone who chases them with a fly rod should buy it and study it. Fly Fishing for Striped Bass is filled with practical techniques, fishing lore, history of the sport, and much, much more.” My impression of this tome echoes the sentiments of Lefty, a true master of fishing for striped bass, as this it left me in awe of the treasure trove of information that it contains. There’s little doubt that this book will become a classic reference source for those who seek to increase their knowledge of angling for striped bass. I’m far from being a stranger to catching these gamefish using a wide variety of tackle and, without hesitation, without reservation state that Fly Fishing for Striped Bass** offers a graduate course in regards to the amount of practical information it offers for anyone who ever desires to capture trophy stripers consistently using the ‘willow wisp’ approach to angling. With Christmas approaching on the near horizon, this book would make an ideal gift for both beginning or advanced anglers seeking to improve their skills of capturing big stripers from the nearby coastal waters. Fly Fishing for Striped Bass can be ordered from Wild River Press, 2315 210th Street SE, Bothell, Washington 98021; telephone 425-486-3638; or online at www.wildriverpress.com. __________________ Bill www.billfishcharter.com

11-08-2007, 07:29 PM	#2
Relentless User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Marshfield, MA Posts: 475	Time Capt Bill, I think you need anothe job, you have too much time on your hands after reading the book cover to cover in no time and deciphering it page by page. God I hope the big fish return early next year for Bills Sake. Dave __________________ Capt Dave Waldrip www.relentlesscharters.com

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