At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman..., John Gierach
At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman..., John Gierach
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman

Author: John Gierach

Narrator: David Colacci

Unabridged: 7 hr 3 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/22/2019


Synopsis

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.

Proving that fishing is not just a part-time pursuit, At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman takes us through a year with America's favorite fishing scribe, John Gierach, who dedicates himself to his passion despite his belief that "In the long run, fishing usually amounts to a lifetime of pratfalls punctuated by rare moments of perfection."

Beginning with an early spring expedition to barely thawed Wyoming waters and ending with a New Year's Eve trip to the Frying Pan River in Colorado, Gierach's travels find him fishing for trout, carp, and grayling; considering the pros and cons of learning fishing from videos ("video fishing seems a little like movie sex: fun to watch, but a long way from the real thing"); pondering the ethics of sharing secret spots; and debunking the myth of the unflappable outdoorsman ("masters of stillness on the outside, festering s***holes of uncertainty just under the surface").

With an appreciation of the highs, the lows, and all points between, Gierach writes about the fishing life with wisdom, grace, and the well-timed wisecrack. As he says, "The season never does officially end here, but it ends effectively, which means you can fish if you want to and if you can stand it, but you don't have to." As any Gierach fan knows, want to and have to are never very far apart.

About John Gierach

John Gierach is the author of numerous books on fly-fishing, including At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman, Standing in a River Waving a Stick, and Dances with Trout. His work has appeared in Gray's Sporting Journal, Field & Stream, where he is a contributing writer, and Fly Rod & Reel, where he is a columnist. He also writes columns for the Longmont Daily Times-Call and the monthly Redstone Review. He lives in Lyons, Colorado.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Henry on April 17, 2024

Great book; very in-line (as I am rapidly learning) with Gierach's typical style. I found this book to have more structure than Standing in a River Waving a Stick, filled with more inter-story continuity, but less thematic thrust than Still Life With Brook Trout. I suppose I should not be surprised......more

Goodreads review by Mitch on June 22, 2019

I wouldn’t call him a great philosopher by any means but he’s a great writer, and most people can’t tell the difference between that.......more

Goodreads review by Mary on October 17, 2024

RIP John Gierach, who died earlier this month. Great writer, fly fisher.......more