Craig Mathews – författare

Together, these anglers have nearly 200 years of fly fishing experience. They've tried -- and refined -- it all, so you can catch fish -- anywhere, any time, with just one type of fly. Angling afficionados and authors Chouinard, Mathews, and Mazzo join together again to reveal the secret to successful fly fishing: the pheasant tail fly. In Simple Fly Fishing (Patagonia, 2014; 2018), they made the case for replacing unnecessary gear with knowledge and technique. Now, after years of continuing to experiment and simplify, they offer the next step: the feathers that can be used to tie any kind of fly: nymphs, dry flies, emergers, and beetles. Conceived as an advanced follow-up to Simple Fly Fishing, Pheasant Tail Simplicity focuses on essential fly patterns that all share one critical ingredient—pheasant tail. The book explores the techniques required to tie and present these flies to trout, anadromous, and saltwater species. More than just a guide, it challenges the industry norm that thousands of fly patterns are necessary to catch fish. Instead, it distills fly fishing to its core: one shared fly tying ingredient, a handful of techniques, and a mindset that prioritizes knowledge, craft, and creativity over all else.  The book includes 18 detailed fly recipes, with ingredients lists and step-by-step photos.Wet Fly Patterns: Flymph, Bead Head Flymph, Soft Hackle, Soft Hackle Dry Fly, Trico SpinnerNymph Patterns: Nymph, Bead Head Nymph, Jig, Red Tag, CaddisDry Fly Patterns: Mayfly Emerger, Sparkle Dun, Mayfly Spinner, Iris Caddis, X Caddis, Zelon Midge, Foam BeetleSaltwater Pattern: Bonefish    Then they tell how to use this one type of fly to catch any kind of fish. In concise text, with instructional photos throughout and QR codes that link to how-to videos for tying and fishing with these flies, this book and its techniques force you to rely on your skills and to be creative to be successful. You will catch fish as you never have before.

This fine little guidebook to the best fishing in Yellowstone Park discusses aquatic and terrestrial insect emergences and activity periods, fly patterns to imitate these insects, and effective fishing techniques. Included are specific locations, access points and trailheads, distances, and terrain descriptions. The handy icons located at the beginning of each of the more than two hundred waters discussed provide helpful, at-a-glance information about fish type, ease of access, and wildlife to watch for. This book is required reading for any fly fisher planning a trip to Yellowstone Park - an area that holds more wild trout water for its size than anywhere else in the world. Includes both color and B&W photos and illustrations throughout.

Flowing from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks, Montana, where it joins the Jefferson and the Gallatin to form the mighty Missouri, the Madison River is one of the most famous, but also one of the most complicated, trout rivers in North America. This river can have different insect hatches every fifty yards, and ranges from a glassy, spring-fed stream to a tumbling torrent filled with rapids. Its complex variety of waters and habitat defies conventional fly-fishing techniques. In Fly Fishing the Madison, fly shop owner, guide, and noted author Craig Mathews demystifies the river, offering valuable insights and advice to first-time visitors and veterans alike. Covering the various sections of the river, fishing conditions likely to confront you in all four seasons, various insect hatches-including the famous salmon fly-along with a list proven fly patterns and tying recipes for sixteen of the best, Fly Fishing the Madison will prove invaluable to all fly anglers planning to fish this spectacular waterway.

Western Fly-Fishing Strategies presents valuable tips and lessons with chapters ranging from trip planning, equipment, and tackle, to Western hatches, different kinds of insects, and the special fall season for Western anglers. Also included are useful drawings by Rod Walinchus, full-color fly plates, and photographs of the naturals, as well as thoughts on the future of Western fly fishing.