Whatcha been reading lately?
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This year I’ve read
“Casting a Spell” George Black – **** In my opinion, a great great resource for learning the history of the fly rod, fly rod business and draw towards bamboo rods. Black is a little full of it in places, but that’s to be expected. Not every bamboo rodmaker has a copy of Garrison’s book (I don’t and don’t care to) and not every rodmaker is after the relentless pursuit of a mystical perfect rod. Personally, I like making really kickazz fishing rods, not poetic hogwash. Each his own.
“The River Why” D.J. Duncan – ***** Personally, I thought it was great. I found it incredible that he could concieve all those working parts of that story. Just when I think I could pull off a 10 cent novel of my own I read something like that and say ‘well crap, no way I could write like that’. Duncan likes to show off his vocabulary a bit though, which is fine, but I prefer KISS writing.
“Moose on the Water, Bamboo on the Bench” – * Didn’t do anything for me. Took them a decade to make one freakin’ rod.
“Pale Morning Done” *** I could’ve done without the romance myself, but it had some fantastic parts. I think this one would make a good movie.
“Trout Bum” – I’m currently 3/4 way through it. Yes, I’ve never read it until now. It is pretty darn good. Maybe not as good as I’d expected, but still very good and a fun read.
Next up and on the nightstand at the ready…
“Seasons of a Fisherman” by Roderick Haig-Brown
Some others from a year or so back…
“Splitting Cane” Ed Engle – *** Nice look into several cane workshops. I did a bit of snickering though.
“Constructing Cane Rods” Ray Gould – * If you’re looking to get into the craft, avoid Gould IMO. Go with…
“Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods” Cattanach – **** Much better and easier to follow. You don’t have to be a mechanical engineer to figure this one out.
“Fishing Bamboo” Geirach – ***** See “Casting a Spell”. Read Black’s book for the what, read Geirach’s for the why.
Good thread, lots of good ones already mentioned and gave me ideas for some to pick up and read.
A few that haven’t been mentioned on my shelf:
Dark Waters or The Anglers Coast by Russell Chatham
The Estuary Flyfisher by Steve Raymond
Flyfishing for Coastal Cutthroat Trout by Les Johnson
The Color of Winter – Steelhead Flyfishing on the Olympic Peninsula by Doug Rose
Fly Rodding the Coast by Ed Mitchell
What the River Knows by Wayne FieldsThese are on my coffee table as I type:
Hawk’s Rest – Gary Ferguson
He’s a retired Forest Service Ranger that spent 20 or so summers living and patroling in the Thorofare region of Yellowstone. Good stuff…especially if you’ve been there.The Short Stories – Ernest Hemmingway
‘Nuff said.The Lost Explorer – Conrad Anker
If you liked “Into Thin Air” you’ll love this one!….and my mostest favorite….the Fall issue of The Drake. Yes friends….they now have a Fall issue. WooHoo!
If I had to have only one book, at this time, there is no doubt it would be Gary Borger’s Presentation. I have read precious few chapters, but I have learned a year’s worth thus far. If you do a search of his name on Ebay, you will find a limited Ed. of 250 copies, which comes with a hand tied fly from the author, a signed leather-bound copy, and a lithograph from his son, the Shadow-casting Jason. I received this for my b-day last month, and it was the best 100 bucks I told my wife to spend!
Dusty
I recently read Rich Osthoff’s ACTIVE NYMPHING. Rich certainly thinks outside the box when it comes
to nymphing. Yes, many of his techniques have been described elsewhere, but Rich puts them all together; and unifies them which his perspective on catching fish.The book also has a wealth of simple, but essential information, like the best way to put on split shots.
I feel I learned something on almost every page.
Randyflycaster
“Chalkstream Chronicles” By Neil Patterson. Started it a few nights ago. Great style, great content, great book.
Morsie
A book I really enjoyed was “Under Cottonwoods” by Stephen Grace
I look forward to reading “Pale Morning Done”.The Road By Comac McCarthy Awesome!!! Read the last paragraph you’ll never think of a brook trout the same way again!
On the lighter side, Friends On The Water
Short stories by numerous authors and excellent photography Val AtkinsonI’ll give another nod to Dave Ames’ and his books.
I’m about 1/4 way through his most recent release, “Dances with Sharks”. So far it is excellent.
Dave’s first two books (“True love and the woolly bugger” and “A good life wasted”) were also very great works if you like fly fishing. If your a guide, have ever guided, would ever like to try guiding……his books will hit many familiar notes.
His tales from the rivers, bays, and inlets will tickle your funny bone and then tug on your heart strings. Great reads.
I spent the better part of my winter reading all 22 of Jim Harrisons books. As most of you know he is the author of Legends of the Fall. He is one creative and jacked up dude. His stories and novels just rock. Easy reading too.
I spent the better part of my winter reading all 22 of Jim Harrisons books. As most of you know he is the author of Legends of the Fall. He is one creative and jacked up dude. His stories and novels just rock. Easy reading too.
Harrison is also a phenomenal poet.
I spent the better part of my winter reading all 22 of Jim Harrisons books. As most of you know he is the author of Legends of the Fall. He is one creative and jacked up dude. His stories and novels just rock. Easy reading too.
He also wrote Revenge. Gotta love a story were the good guy actually loses.
His quotes rock too:
“Fishing is the most wonderful thing i do in my life, barring some equally delightful unmentionalbles, and not disregarding gluttony and booze. It’s in the top five.” -Jim Harrison
This is my first post, on a thread that hasn’t been hit since Jan…But because other than fishing, the only thing that brings me equal enjoyment is reading…Here’s what I’ve been reading:
Streams of Consciousness by Jeff Hull (A good read, I can’t get enough of fishing stories, he’s no Gierach, but still very entertaining)
A Fish’s Eye by Ian Frazier (This guy can fish, and write, and write about fishing very well, his humor is sharp)
The River Why by David James Duncan (a recommendation from a friend.
In The Ring of the Rise. Frankly, I’m disappointed. Maybe it gets better. I found The Dry Fly and Fast Water much more revealing.
Randy
Going back to the classics:
Trout Madness
Trout Magicby Robert Traver (John Voelker)
Also reading:
The Technology Of Fly Rods by Don Phillips. Just about everything you ever wanted to know about fly rod construction.
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