Trout Bum

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Summary: Zen and the art of Trout Fishing
Review: John's travels and travails with A.K. Best and a world class Trout addiction are literate, light and great fun to read when you can't be fishing yourself

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Summary: Rave review
Review: This is a terrific book. Bite-sized, hilarious chapters. required reading for fly fishers, but captivating for everyone else as well

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Summary: Great Essays for all
Review: What I especially appreciate about this work is that anyone can read the essays and enjoy them, even if they have never picked up a fly rod in their life, although fly-fishermen will laugh harder at the humor.

Each essay adds a piece of the puzzle to the secrecy of the life of a fly-fisherman. This art/science/sport is shrouded in mystery and lore. It is rare that a Master will let you into his world so intimately. All of Gierach's books seem to have that 'eastern' feel to them, as if they could have been written by Lao Tzu. The Essay "Zen and the Art of Nymph-Fishing" almost brought tears to my eyes. It is a classic work.

The most cherished aspect of this book (and almost everything written by Gierach) is that it exposes fly fishing for what it is. It is not just a sport. It is not just 'fishing'. Fly Fishing is a metaphor for life. Non-fly fishers will probably not understand this. Fly Fishing is the western man's tai chi. I believe that if everyone could fly fish, life in our country would be a whole lot less stressful and happier. Of course, I hope everyone doesn't fly fish. That would screw it up for the rest of us. Gierach captures the essence of life as a fly fisherman. The solitude. The peace. The at-oneness with nature. The appreciation of one of God's coolest creations (i.e. fish). And if fly fishing is a metaphor for life, then fly tying is a metaphor for art. Gierach paints fly tying as a cross between meditation and painting.

I recommend this book to anyone who fly fishes, and anyone who knows anyone who fly fishes, or even anyone who is interested in fly fishing in general, but doesn't think they ever will.