Nothing new here: muddler type flies catch fish as do traditional hair and feather wing streamers. Put a mallard wing on a Muddler and call it a 'Zoo Cougar'.The patterns section is dissapointing. Bow Buggers,Cone Head Marabous, and a few crawfish patterns are about all that is here. The technique section is OK, but misses out on the truly new streamer methods being used in the West. Probably applies to the authors home waters in the east better than the Rockies. If you fish streamers a bit you should already know 90% of what is in this book.

Very insightful work from Bob and Kelly. I really enjoy this type of instructional book that keeps my attention and doesn't take me a month to "wade" through. The first 4 chapters were very informative as to the history of streamers, large trout behavior and technique. If any part of this book failed me it would have been the chapter on Patterns. More attention could have been spent on technique and tying tips here. A comment that Bob made rubbed me the wrong way when he categorized many fly tyers as "loose handed, casual tyers" when he said that this type of person rarely creates lasting fly patterns. This type of attitude runs rampant enough in the local fly shops without being critical of the majority of tyers out there. After all, it's the "loose handed" tyer that purchase these types of books and make the tying industry what it is.

Linseman and Galloup have created that rarest of flyfishing books, one that actually provides insights and information that are hard to find anywhere else.

Streamer fishing is much neglected, and most authors, if they cover it at all, provide a dusultory chapter or so. L&G explain the techniques of streamer fishing comprehensively, yet succinctly. The up-and-across, dredge, and swing techniques of streamer fishing are each analyzed and explained. The descriptions are clear, actionable, and you'll come away with a pretty clear understanding of what you'll need to do on the water.

The discussion of techniques for LANDING a large fish is worth the price of the book, and can be applied to any form of fishing. The brief description of tackle (really a tackle SYSTEM: Rod, Reel, Line, Leader)is also extremely useful.

Streamers should be part of every fly fisher's repertoire, even if you don't buy into the authors' contention that it should be the primary method. All in all, the best intro to the subject I've seen.