Freshwater angling is the basic focus of the collection, but related and overlapping subject areas include: ichthyology, fly tying, entomology, recreation, travel, conservation, ecology, and stream management. Items acquired in the last decade are cataloged on the library's on-line catalog. Older acquisitions are listed by author and title in a traditional card catalog in the special collections reading room.

The collection includes original manuscripts, working papers, correspondence, first editions, critical studies, and ephemera pertaining to Frank Herbert's life and the works included in the collection.