Where tiger fish roam

In this list-crazy era, a coffeetable-style collection of the world’s finest fly-fishing spots had to happen.

Ask any group of aficionados, and you’ll get widely varied favorites -- and they’re not all trout. Although its hollowed haunts -- the Test in England, the Bighorn in Montana, Henry’s Fork in Idaho -- are here, there are also side trips to more exotic places, such as Zambia for fly-shredding tiger fish or Mongolia for 100-pound taimen.

Chris Santella wisely enlists fly-fishing gurus for advice on the top fly spots, including author and artist James Prosek. More than 20 locations are detailed in the U.S. and Canada alone, and saltwater anglers will appreciate the chapters on fishing for snook in Mexico and bonefish in the Bahamas.

There is also plenty of getting there and gear recommendations -- exactly what you’ll need when the urge to pack rod and reel strikes while thumbing through this volume. Complemented by the rich photos of R. Valentine Atkinson, “Fifty Places” is proof that great fish live in beautiful waters.

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-- Michael Koehn