Rick Hafele -- Before dinner

Rick Hafele – before dinner - Understanding Western Hatches

This afternoon we had the privilege to get together with Rick Hafele - Author/Lecturer/Bug Man.

Today Rick was in town to discuss with a group of fly fishers from around the area the art, science and presentation of technical fly fishing from the layman’s view and language. As an author, Rick was not here to sell his books, but to share the vast amount of knowledge he has comprised in his education of Entomology.

 The Complete Book of Western Hatches, was Rick’s first book co-authored with Dave Hughes, was published in 1981.  Since then he has co-authored or authored several other books including Western Mayfly Hatches, An Angler’s Guide to Aquatic Insects and Their Imitations, Nymph Fishing Rivers and Streams, and more. In 1983 he completed the instructional video, Anatomy of a Trout Stream, produced by Scientific Anglers.  This has been followed more recently by six other instructional DVDs: Fly Fishing Large Western Rivers (a four volume set), Nymph Fishing Basics, Advanced Nymph Fishing and most recently Advanced Tactics for Emergers & Dries.   

With the vast amount of subject matter and insight that Rick shared with us this afternoon, of his knowledge of Understanding Western Hatches - 

A 3-hour slide/lecture program that explains the “why” of fishing success.  Topics covered include: How to recognize the key western hatches of mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and more. 

How insect behavior affects fish feeding behavior.  How to select and fish the proper patterns.  Rick’s presentation was an excellent slide show of color photos illustrate all stages of the insects, their habitat, fly patterns, and tactics.

This writer will not try to make a conscientious accounting of Rick’s presentation, but instead point you to the knowledge shared in Rick’s publications.

During this one afternoon's sitting in Rick's lecture, this writer built 10-pages of fly fishing notes to ponder. One can find many of Rick's publications on Amazon.com

If you were unable to make it to this lecture, you might be interested in watching this short facebook video about hatches and where to look for trout.  

Tight lines and good fishing,