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"Death, Taxes, and Leaky Waders" collects forty of John Gierach's finest essays on fishing from six of his books. Like all his writing, these essays are seasoned by a keen sense of observation and a deep knowledge and love of fishing lore, leavened by a wonderfully wry sense of humor. Gierach often begins with an observation that soon leads to something below the surface, which he finds and successfully lands. As Gierach says, writing is a lot like fishing.This is the first anthology of John Gierach's work, a collection that is sure to delight both die-hard fans and new readers alike. To enter Gierach's world is to experience the daily wonder, challenge, and occasional absurdity of the fishing life -- from such rituals as the preparation of camp coffee (for best results, serve in a tin cup) to the random, revelatory surprises, such as the flashing beauty of a grayling leaping out of the water. Whether he's catching fish or musing on the ones that got away, Gierach is always entertaining and enlightening, writing with his own inimitable blend of grace and style, passion and wit.
List of contents
ContentsIntroduction
Trout BumCamp Coffee
Kazan River Grayling
Headwaters
The Adams Hatch
Night-fishing
Cutthroat Pilgrimage
On the Road
The View from Rat LakeThe Big Empty River
The Fishing Car
The Purist
The Music of the Spheres
Headhunting
In Camp
Enough Fish
Sex, Death, and Fly-fishingSex, Death, and Fly-fishing
Expertizing
I'd Fish Anyone's St. Vrain
Neither Snow, nor Rain, nor Gloom of Night...
Guiding and Being Guided
The Chairman's Bass
Rivers
Wyoming
Even Brook Trout Get the BluesThe Family Pool
Bamboo
Montana
A Year in the Life
Even Brook Trout Get the Blues
Pike
The New Pond
Dances with TroutQuitting Early
Texas
Scotland
The Storm
Alaska
A Few Days Before Christmas
West
Another Lousy Day in ParadiseRock Bass
The Kindness of Strangers
Carp
Desperation Creek
About the author
John Gierach was the author of more than twenty books about fly-fishing. His writing appeared in
Field & Stream,
Gray’s Sporting Journal, and
Fly Rod & Reel. He wrote a column for
Trout magazine and the monthly
Redstone Review. Gierach passed away in 2024.
Summary
Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.
Death, Taxes, and Leaky Waders collects forty of John Gierach’s finest essays on fishing from six of his books. Like all his writing, these essays are seasoned by a keen sense of observation and a deep knowledge and love of fishing lore, leavened by a wonderfully wry sense of humor. Gierach often begins with an observation that soon leads to something below the surface, which he finds and successfully lands. As Gierach says, writing is a lot like fishing.
This is the first anthology of John Gierach’s work, a collection that is sure to delight both die-hard fans and new readers alike. To enter Gierach’s world is to experience the daily wonder, challenge, and occasional absurdity of the fishing life—from such rituals as the preparation of camp coffee (for best results, serve in a tin cup) to the random, revelatory surprises, such as the flashing beauty of a grayling leaping out of the water. Whether he’s catching fish or musing on the ones that got away, Gierach is always entertaining and enlightening, writing with his own inimitable blend of grace and style, passion and wit.
Additional text
Publishers Weekly (starred) Perhaps the most original, entertaining, and keen outdoors writer working today...A finer collection of the author's work could scarcely be found.
