All Fishermen Are Liars

Anything fish-related catches my eye, even though I am not really a fisherman. That is why I am interested in books like this, to better learn why people like to fish. If you were to read only one book to do the same, this is a good choice. I am fascinated with the beauty of ichthyofauna, trout in particular, but wouldn’t know where to begin if handed a fly rod. I had to kind of pass over some of the technical terms, like the numbers assigned to pieces of equipment. However, after reading enough of this I feel I have a better sense of the tools. This is not textbook-like information but rather the author’s personal experience and how he uses the gear in the field.

In sports championships, the better announcers are mindful of their audience, which often includes a spike in “fair-weather” fans. They use the same terminology they normally would, but also explain things for the infrequent viewers. Gierach’s writing is like that. Good for people new to fishing, even better for those already hooked. Fishing is, as he realizes, an inexhaustible subject to write (and talk) about. As for the craft and construction of flies, the possibilities really are endless, and the only way I think someone could know what all of these parts do is through years of experience. It is not surprising that a book about fly fishing spends so much time describing the diversity of flies – and rods, too. It made me think of guitars and their strings, a world I do know.

The author is based in Colorado, and travels to various destinations in upper North America for this book that is more like a collection of related essays than a continuous storyline. The style flows like the fast, clean water of a good trout stream, and most chapters end with a sort of ‘moral of the story’. He works in details of day-to-day life, and the journey over time, with just the right amount of humor to bob it along, making you feel like you’re there with him and his friends. There are nice sketches by Glenn Wolff at start of each (brief) chapter that match the writing in their rugged elegance. If you look close, there’s even an Audubon’s warbler, the western race of one of my favorite visiting birds, the yellow-rumped warbler. So, lots of details on the art of fly fishing, not as much about the fish themselves, but still a good read.

Note: I won a copy of this title through Goodreads' First Reads.