Knots, connections, and choices of tackle--and all the knots a freshwater fly fisher will need.. Although these four books are loaded with information, their size (61/2 inches high) will cause problems on library shelves, and the conventional paper and binding leaves them vulnerable to water damage (they are designed to fit into a pocket and be taken along on fishing trips). Despite the flaws, the entire series is worth purchasing for libraries that circulate flyfishing books. The best of the guides is The Orvis Streamside Guide to Approach and Presentation, which discusses where to find trout and how to catch them. As with all of the guides, the photos and drawings are well selected and produced, and the book is well written and easy to understand. The Orvis Streamside Guide to Leaders, Knots, and Tippets, which covers an underappreciated area of an overanalyzed sport, is also useful, but The Orvis Streamside Guide to Trout Foods and Their Imitations is rather too general. However, it does contain some of the best insect photography available. Although it is probably easier to learn opera singing than fly casting from a book, The Orvis Streamside Guide to Fly Casting is no better or worse than the majority of other books on the topic. Overall, this set is a good value for fly fishers.DJeff Grossman, Milwaukee Area Tech. Coll. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. How many different kinds of lines do I need? How do I tell when my tippet gets too short? Should I use braided leaders when I'm fishing dry flies? Should I build my own knotted leaders? Are knotless leaders helpful?All of these questions and hundreds more are answered in this pocket guide. The guide begins with the fly and works its way through the tippet, leader, and line - explaining knots, connections, and choices of tackle, with helpful tips to ensure more fun and fewer frustrations for the angler on the water. Generously illustrated with color photographs and detailed line drawings, this book includes all the knots a fresh water fly fisher will need. (41/4 X 61/2, 152 pages, color photos, diagrams, charts) Tom Rosenbauer is the author of the bestselling book The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide (over 200,000 copies sold). Used Book in Good Condition