Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural
world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing
writers.With his inimitable combination of wit and wisdom, John Gierach
once again celebrates the fly-fishing life in Standing in a River Waving
a Stick and notes its benefits as a sport, philosophical pursuit, even
therapy: "The solution to any problem--work, love, money, whatever--is
to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should
be." After all, fly-fishing does teach important life lessons, says
Gierach--about solitude, patience, perspective, humor, and the sublime
coffee break. Recounting both memorable fishing spots and memorable
fish, Gierach discusses what makes a good fly pattern, the ethics of
writing about undiscovered trout waters, the dread of getting skunked,
and the camaraderie of fellow fishermen who can end almost any
conversation with "Well, it's sort of like fishing, isn't it?"
Reflecting on a lifetime of lessons learned at the end of a fly rod,
Gierach concludes, "The one inscription you don't want carved on your
tombstone is 'The Poor Son of a Bitch Didn't Fish Enough.'" Fortunately
for Gierach fans, this is not likely to happen.