Paul Morgan and friends - Salt Water Flyfishing - Britain & Northern Europe - Book review - Global FlyFisher

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Paul Morgan and friends


Salt Water Flyfishing - Britain & Northern Europe

Reviewed by Martin Joergensen

Date: May 5th 1998

  • Paul Morgan & Friends
  • Salt Water Flyfishing - Britain & Northern Europe
  • Published by Coch-y-Bonddu Books 1998
  • ISBN 0-952810-9-1
  • Price UK£ 19.95
    Available directly from Coch-y-Bonddu Books
In computer circles - and maybe other places - a project such as this book is often referred to as a soup stone project. This refers to the fact that it's built from scratch by contributions from many people.

This soup stone project has resulted in an amazing book on a subject - or rather a row of subjects - that have not been covered in one volume before. The title only barely indicates what a wealth and diversity of information can be found on its pages.
Paul Morgan and a team of coauthors take you for a tour of species, localities and tackle. The authors are both well known International flyfishers and less known ethusiasts ogf which some are known from some of the online communities - especially Eur-Flyfish@.

Each has contributed one or more sections, and one particularly entertaining and informative chapter recaptures a whole discussion on sea trout fishing that took place in the European online discussion group. The entries in this discussion clearly demonstrates a strength that penetrates the whole book; diversity. Usually this would not be a positive term. It might even be called unhomogenous by some. But in this case the difference in angle, tone and language between each chapter just emphasizes the difference between the fishing and the parts of Europe from wich it comes.

The book contains in depth coverage of most species fishable with fly tackle in Northern Europe and to some extend the Mediterranian area. These are not only the commonly known salt water flyfishing species such as sea trout and bass, but also the rarer mackrel, garfish, coalfish, pike and many more. The chapters - albeit different - will give you a complete guide to the tackle and methods used for the given species, and will make a perfect companion on travels around Europe.

Paul Morgan has also grasped the historic view through chapters adapted from older writings on the subject. Should I utter some critical word about this book it would be on the illustrations. The chapters are kept together by some very beautiful B/W drawings, but the photography and other illustrations are not up to the rest of the book and the fly patterns illustrated also by photos and drawings are not representative of any flies that I know or use in salt water.
I also find it a bit odd that the chapters on each country is not necessarily written by a person from that country. With all respect for Dutch Rudy van Duijnhoven, but omitting general information on Denmark, for example on fishing licenses and rules is in my opinion a grave shortcoming in that chapter.
These facts do not in any way harm the overall impression of this book as an excellent book on the subject - and fairly inexpensive on top of that.

Highly recommended to any salt water or European flyfisher - or any curious flyfisher for that matter.


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User comments
From: Korrie · korrie·at·caneworld.co.za  Link
Submitted April 28th 2006

Hello
I flyfished Italy for 3 weeks. Some of the best flyfishing you could wish for. Virtually all of the Appenines have trout. From Castel de Sangro in the south to the Northern Appenines. North of Florence. All the mountains on the French, Swiss borders to the Dolomites in the East.There are numerous fly fishing clubs in Italy. Get hold of their aqautic society. They should be able to help you.Enjoy


From: tim st. pierre · st.piert·at·nsa.naples.navy.mil  Link
Submitted April 27th 2006

Where can i fish in italy??? Trout??? stationed here!
Respectfully,
all dressed up with no place to go!



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