Limestone streams are some of the most unique and challenging fly-fishing waters in the eastern United States, flowing through storied fishing regions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. These perfect trout havens, with their continuously cool temperatures and voluminous insect hatches, are essential destinations for the fly fisher.
In Fishing Limestone Streams, Charles Meck, who has spent forty years studying and fishing limestones, explains the nature of these waters, how they differ from freestone streams, and why they are such an important part of the environment and the fishing experience. In a highly detailed stream-by-stream breakdown, Meck guides you to fifty top waters and instructs you how to catch the ever-smart trout there.
Meck examines the numerous insects found in limestone streams, clarifying these with useful charts for important hatches such as the Trico, Sulphur, Green Drake, and Blue-Winged Olive. He also discusses other important trout food, including midges, caddisflies, and stoneflies.
Limestone streams can be highly technical waters, but Meck dispels those troubles with a thorough chapter on tactics. He explains leaders and tippets, tricks like sinking the dun or spinner pattern, how to set up a tandem rig, how to use the weather to your advantage, and how to choose the right pattern for trout that have passed up fly after fly all season.
Eventually, every angler must make a journey to a limestone stream, and this book can help make that trip a successful one. Once on the water, you will see why Meck calls these resources "gems," and understand why all anglers should support the valiant conservation efforts undertaken to restore and protectthese streams.


Limestone streams present some of the most intriguing and challenging fly-fishing waters in mid-America, flowing through such storied fishing regions in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and New York. Meck explains what limestone streams are, how they significantly differ from freestone streams, and why they are such an important part of the environment and the fishing experience.
Meck examines the common insects found in limestone streams, beginning with a useful hatch chart, and following with an in-depth discussion of some of the more important hatches,
including the trico, the blue-winged olive, the sulphur and pale morning dun, the green drake, as well as midges, scuds, and cress bugs.
He also discusses special tactics for fishing limestone streams, with advice on using a long fine leader with a fluorocarbon tippet, sinking the dun or spinner pattern, using a tandem rig or strike indicator, which patterns to carry to match any limestone hatch, the use of smaller patterns, fishing in poor weather, and catching the early hatch cycle.
He also discusses the flies the guides use, and why, and discusses the future of the limestone stream, addressing issues such as sedimentation and development. For any angler contemplating a journey to a limestone stream, this is a must.