ATLANTIC SALMON CHRONICLES
The Fish, the Rivers, the Fly-Fishing Techniques and Equipment

by E. Richard Nightingale

Atlantic Salmon Chronicles is the most instructive salmon book in 40 years. An artful blend of technology, analysis, and lyrical prose, it is the perfect complement to Lee Wulff's 1958 classic on Atlantic salmon.

Fishing for Atlantic salmon is not just about catching salmon on a fly. It's about the romance of the river and one's encounter with the noblest and most enigmatic of God's creatures. It's about the art of the tier and the craft of the angler, skillfully searching and attacking an unseen quarry. It's about man being engulfed by the spirit of the river and, win or lose, reliving the encounter in his dreams forever.

Richard Nightingale has been fly fishing for most of his life and has been seriously chasing and studying salmon for more than three decades. Ever challenging conventional wisdom, in the first half of the book he offers a totally new look at fly rods and lines, a critical evaluation of fly reels, new insights into how one chooses salmon flies, a comprehensive examination of knots and leaders, and an extensive and unbiased review of other fishing tackle and equipment. From him readers can learn how to get good value and maximum performance by selecting the right equipment for the task at hand.

The latter half of the book opens with a widely acclaimed, heart-felt,  and sobering evaluation of the life and conservation of the Atlantic salmon, including its response to stresses imposed by man and nature and the role of catch-and-release in a world of rapidly declining resources. He then examines the "fishing experience," ranging from capturing one's first salmon to his landing the 20-pounder on a size 16 single hook that qualified him for Lee Wulff's exclusive Sixteen-Twenty Club, from angling the world-class rivers to evaluating the great salmon guides.

This is truly a book to savor, with its clean, elegant writing; original paintings by Thomas Aquinas Daly, one of America's premier sporting and landscape artists; outstanding color and black-and-white photos; and precise illustrations and instructions for knots and do-it-yourself fly tiers. And as a special treat, Nightingale closes by sharing his favorite recipes so the reader can fully enjoy the "feast of the salmon."

Here's what Bill Taylor, President of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, has said about Atlantic Salmon Chronicles:

"Atlantic Salmon Chronicles is an important addition to the tradition of great books covering Atlantic salmon. Richard Nightingale joins the ranks of angling and literary greats such as Lee Wulff and Joe Bates who brilliantly wove the angling and conservation themes throughout their fine books . . . [The] chapter on the 'Sacred Rivers of the Salmon' is captivating. We are introduced to the great Atlantic salmon rivers of the world, and there is no better guide than Richard."

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