Beginner

A Flyfisher's Guide to New England: Book Review for Fly Anglers

Dec 14, 2016 · 2 min read
Ben FreemanBy Ben Freeman
Ben Freeman
Ben Freeman

Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. ...

Read full bio →
A Flyfisher's Guide to New England: Book Review for Fly Anglers

Sunset-toned book cover showing angler in tan vest and blue plaid shirt flyfishing waist-deep in river with pine-lined hills

While most of our customers may never set foot into our shop, we often get asked about our local waters. Thankfully, for those interested in visiting New England, there's a new fly-fishing book that might interest anglers. Flyfisher’s Guide to New England by Lou Zambello is a complete re-write of the old guide that some of you may have purchased back in the day.

While other recently-published books cover the best known or most popular fisheries, this book not only covers those waters as well, but more importantly, hundreds of lesser known rivers, streams, and ponds, as well as a variety of fish species in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

The author told me recently that the popular waters seem to get more crowded each year while other areas that offer enjoyable fishing are being overlooked. He wrote the book to show anglers other options, and I've personally fished several based on his recommendations.

Some of you may be familiar with the author, Lou Zambello. He is a long-time guide in the Rangeley area, published the well-received, “Fly Fishing Northern New England’s Seasons” a how-to book to maximize seasonal opportunities, and gives frequent presentations and seminars around New England. Lou teamed up with former Maine State Fisheries Director, John Boland, and other experts and spent several years criss-crossing New England researching this book.

This full-color large-format book includes full-color maps of the major fisheries, complete with GPS coordinates, access points, public land, access roads, boat ramps (including small hand launches), parking areas, named holes and pools and more. Lou also includes easy-access options, beginner spots, vacation suggestions, and proven fly patterns (at the end of the book). You will enjoy Lou’s relaxed writing-style as well.

Signed copies of Fly Fishers Guide to New England are available from us, and the book is also carried in most retailers and on-line merchants that sell fly-fishing books.

Blue Travel Guard banner with white checkboxes: trip cancellation, medical emergency, lost luggage; AIG logo; travel
Black circular badge with red rim and gray globe, white SAFE TRAVEL and PARTNER text, GLOBAL red rescue logo with cross
Ben Freeman
Written by

Ben Freeman

Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.

At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.

Get the latest fly fishing tips & gear reviews

Comments

(0)

No comments yet. Be the first!