The Trout at the Walnut Tree

Rating:
Summary: Fish stories and the art of flies as well
Review: Outdoorsman Rich Tate shares with us a history of the fly-fishing he's done in the streams and waterways of central Pennsylvania. For years, he kept a journal of catches, sites, times, water temperatures, and just about anything else you can think of to describe the days and the activities. Here he's taken those figures and put the information in essay form. The first half of this book follows his personal trial-and-error process over twenty years as he matured into an adult and an experienced fly-fisherman. The second half is devoted to strategies of reading water, techniques of fly-tying, types of rods, and recommendations for what works best in given situations. The "trout at the walnut tree" is the one who eluded Tate for almost the whole duration of a fishing season, and an entire chapter describes the many trysts that took place between the two. Because he abhors "kiss-and-tell fishermen," you won't learn the exact names and locations of his favorite fishing holes. You *will* read about night fishing, dealing with a raging bull in a meadow, the ethics of catch and release, and being a good husband and father while maintaining a demanding hobby at the same time. Even if you're not a sportsman, you'll find yourself entertained and will learn more about fly-fishing than you probably thought possible.

Rating:
Summary: Fish stories and the art of flies as well
Review: Outdoorsman Rich Tate shares with us a history of the fly-fishing he's done in the streams and waterways of central Pennsylvania. For years, he kept a journal of catches, sites, times, water temperatures, and just about anything else you can think of to describe the days and the activities. Here he's taken those figures and put the information in essay form. The first half of this book follows his personal trial-and-error process over twenty years as he matured into an adult and an experienced fly-fisherman. The second half is devoted to strategies of reading water, techniques of fly-tying, types of rods, and recommendations for what works best in given situations. The "trout at the walnut tree" is the one who eluded Tate for almost the whole duration of a fishing season, and an entire chapter describes the many trysts that took place between the two. Because he abhors "kiss-and-tell fishermen," you won't learn the exact names and locations of his favorite fishing holes. You *will* read about night fishing, dealing with a raging bull in a meadow, the ethics of catch and release, and being a good husband and father while maintaining a demanding hobby at the same time. Even if you're not a sportsman, you'll find yourself entertained and will learn more about fly-fishing than you probably thought possible.