With the growing popularity of salt water fly-fishing today, we easily forget that this sport was only begun in the 1930s-1950s. Brooks was one of the earliest pioneers of salt water techniques and salt water flies?both of which still catch fish today. His book, originally published in 1950, remains one of the best overall guides to the sport.

Joe Brooks fished throughout the world and developed both techniques and specific flies (such as the Brooks Blonde) that catch fish as effectively as any flies ever developed. He is also the author of Trout Fishing, and The Complete Guide to Fishing Across North America, among others.