Tiny Baetis mayflies are perhaps the most commonly encountered and imitated by anglers on all American trout streams due to their great abundance, widespread distribution, and trout-friendly emergence habits.
CableGuy931 on Nov 23, 2015November 23rd, 2015, 8:11 am EST
I have recently left bass fishing and want to dedicate my fishing time to trout for a while. Anyone have some advice on some of the best books that cover trout foods, hatches, behaviors and what to look for in streams, rivers and creeks when searching for trout.
Christopher Swinford
RleeP
NW PA - Pennsylvania's Glacial Pothole Wonderland
Posts: 398
RleeP on Nov 23, 2015November 23rd, 2015, 9:50 am EST
Hi Christopher..
If you intend to explore your home state for trout, including GSMNP,( which I would emphatically encourage you to do..), I think the best working how to/where to guides are the two Ian Rutter books published by Frank Amato.
Ian knows his stuff and his book are very useful. Far more useful than any other similar guides, although the Don Kirk books about Tennessee fly fishing and GSMNP are pretty good, just dated. There is also a popular guide to southern Appalachian trouting by Jimmy Jacobs, a long time southern outdoor writer. Regrettably, while Jimmy is a fine fellow, I would advise you to stay away from this book. He spends far more time telling you where you can't fish (too small, too crowded, posted, whatever..) than he does telling you where you can.
Here are Amazon links to the Rutter books as well as an Amazon link to the DeLorme Tennessee Gazetteer, which may be the most useful book of all.