In the Ring of the Rise

Book excerpt: More than fifty years ago, Vincent Marinaro's Modern Dry-Fly Code (page 121) was hailed as "the best angling work of the last half century" and "the first original American contribution to fly-fishing." Now, for the first time in paperback, The Lyons Press brings Marinaro's intense and remarkable originality to a second book of profound significance. Marinaro's approach is nothing short of revolutionary. His startling high-speed color photographs explore the feeding patterns and behavior of the trout, revealing unsuspected responses that the fisherman can exploit with new tactics and new fly patterns. In addition, he provides a novel and unique way of testing fly patterns, the "game of nods"; a fresh look at rod design; new revelations about the spinner; an expanded treatment of his pathbreaking study of the Caenis; and further explorations with terrestrials. There is also a special discussion of limestone and freestone rivers. Graced by the fine line drawings of Pearce Bates and laced with accounts of the author's exciting adventures with trout, In the Ring of the Rise is must reading for all serious fly-fishermen.