With subjects now covered from women’s health, to alpaca raising, to sales strategies — as well as the classics: golf, alcoholism, and communist revolution — The Little Red Book has become an ubiquitous publisher entre into any number of worlds.

For FFJ Senior Editor Kirk Deeter and Denver’s late, great Charlie Meyers, “The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing” (201 pp, Skyhorse Publishing, $16.95US hardcover) this is a perfect application of the Red Book concept. With over 240 tips, excellent photography and clear illustrations, this is a classic addition to the library. And like Pennick’s masterful “The Little Red Book of Golf,” this tome is applicable to both neophyte and veteran alike. Failing to adhere to the most obvious of fundamentals is almost always the cause of most critical mistakes — for beginner and advanced participant alike: Most errant drives on the PGA are from looking up. Simple. As such, the due diligence paid by both authors in breaking down the basics of gear, reading water and thankfully, etiquette, is solid stuff for anyone. At pocket-sized, it carries comfortably in a day pack for alpine or tidal missions beyond the world of wi-fi.

While perhaps too much of fly fishing has been clouded by the “expert” — leaving potential and occasional flyfishers with the sense that without a garage full of gear and the perfect cast, you may as well not even show up — “The Little Red Book of Flyfishing” cuts through the BS and focuses on what counts. Fishing. As Deeter says in the intro: “… too many self-professed experts have made too much money complicating this sport. In reality, fly fishing is a lot simpler than many people think. You don’t need to know the Latin names of every insect, nor do you need to make 70-foot casts, in order to enjoy yourself. The true path to enjoying flyfishing lies in every angler’s spirit.”

Word.

(Kirk Deeter in the mts. of Argentina)

And for those who didn’t know him, Charlie Meyers was one of the country’s most outstanding outdoor writers to ever punch a keyboard or make a roll cast. His columns at The Denver Post as well as his many books and magazine articles over the years provided insight and inspiration for countless readers. He passed away in 2010, the same year “The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing” was published. FFJ was fortunate enough to publish his final piece “Up the Pike” in FFJ #2.1; he is missed but his words and passion live on as he continues to inspire others to follow their own FF journey.