At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman

Rating:
Summary: Fly Fishing Meat and Potatoes
Review: I've read almost all of Gierach's books and this is another great collection of fishing stories told in his naturally witty style. He's still fishing with his old friends like A.K. Best. He still writes about his affinity for bamboo rods, carp, grayling, bass ponds, Green Drakes and the good ol' days. He still writes mostly about fishing in Colorado, and the neighboring states around his home. And, his writing always contains a slew of witty Zen philosophy one-liners and this one is no different. What's new in this book is his explanation of his move from his old cabin along the St. Vrain River to his new home three miles away. His old cabin was a pretty common subject in his past books and it was a little sad to hear about it's demise. He also updates the reader about his new work in the local paper the "Redstone Review" which his new girlfriend publishes. If you didn't know any better you would think that the good ol' "Trout Bum" was settling down a little and getting a little sentimental in his later years.

Well, whatever you want to call John Gierach, "trout bum", or "avid fisherman" there is no doubt that he is a fine fisherman. He writes about fly fishing in a no nonsense kind of way. He doesn't sugar coat anything. You get a meat and potatoes image of fly fishing that's wry, funny, sentimental, and informative. As a Midwesterner, I really relate to his blue collar style, which is one of the reasons why Gierach continues to be my favorite fly fishing author. You're more apt to read fishing stories that involve old beat up trucks rather than fancy SUV's. If this is your first Gierach book and you like his style, I suggest you also read "Death, Taxes, and Leaky Waders", which is a compilation of his favorite stories from his previous books.

Rating:
Summary: Observant, wry & well written notes on the fishing life
Review: It is amazing that John Gierach can keep putting out interesting books on essentially the same topic without getting very repetitious. This is another compilation of essays in a long series chronicling his fishing life and the issues that have impact upon it.

His first book, Trout Bum, established his persona...a trout-obsessed fly-fisher who puts everything in life second to the sport. Whether or not this is actually true we don't know, but I suspect that it is pretty much accurate. Unlike most of the bums that I've known(ski bums, golf bums, bass bums) Gierach has managed to make a living from his obsession. I guess that this is a good thing for him...it certainly is good for his readers!

Rating:
Summary: FUNNY - PARTS HYSTERICAL
Review: Mr. Gierach has published another fine compilation of his marvelous short stories. The craft of writing is never easy and crafting short stories is far more difficult than blathering on for page after page in a mighty tome.

I could easily read this in an hour or two, but I'm reading these stories one-at-a-time because I want to enjoy each new story in its own space. I guess I'm savoring this book as if it was some fine wine or a great pastry...you simply don't gulp it down.

Thanks again for your fine writing, Mr. Gierach. The art of writing short fly fishing stories is a difficult one to master and Mr. Prosek, Mr. Leeson, Ms. Proulx, Mr. Luce, Mr. Babb, Mr. Proper, Mr. McGuane and Nick and Mari Lyons have all made the grade. I won't try to rank any of these fine contemporary authors (though Mr. Prosek's watercolors and Mari Lyons' illustrations (not all watercolors) add a fine edge to the text in their works).

Mr. McGuane notes on the slipcover that Mr. Gierach out fished him the last time they were on the stream together and that he would have been willing to give Mr. Gierach faint praise (if only to even the score), but Mr. McGuane - an honest fisherman (apologies to Sparse) - correctly rates the quality of this fine work (who would put a bad review on the slipcover, anyway?).

I own all of Mr. Gierach's works and this is one of his best. Literate, humorous, and a nice guide for those of us who are a bit younger . . .we can see how a little more living helps hone an individual's perception of the important things in life.