After quite a search, I finally found an acceptable copy of Joe Brooks seminal work, Bass Bug Fishing (1947) (if anyone can call such a book a “seminal” work). At any rate, mine is not in quite as good a condition (the dust jacket has some damage but has been restored), but the book itself is in great condition. “Bass bugs have “IT.” They have a tremendous appeal for both fish and man. They tying of them seems to bring forth the latent inventive genius of all those who go in for making bugs. The fashioning of a bass bug calls for a delicate hand and a vivid imagination. To be able to turn out a perfect one is an art. It also requires a lot of hard work.” Joe Brooks from Bass Bug Fishing (Page 9).
Also just found and purchased, an autographed/inscribed copy of A.D. Livingston’s 1977 book entitled Tying Bugs and Flies for Bass – it should be here next week. I’m a little more than a third of the way through acquiring my collection (every book about fly fishing for black bass species), with I feel the three most difficult in hand – 1925 Cal Johnson, 1947 Brooks, 1968 Tom Nixon.
