gfen
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2007
- Messages
- 6,639
Somehow, searching on the interwebs for something brought me to this book's posting in Google Books.
So, I proceded to sit down and read some of it, and I really enjoyed what I got, so I bought a used copy from Amazon for pennies.
I figured, as I've worked my way through easily a third of it, I'd just go ahead and post my thoughts in a sort of minireview: This is a really enjoyable book.
What I like is that it comes at you, in a way, as less of a teaching aid and seems to float things to you in a more conversational tone, sort of someone sharing their thoughts and peppering in some wisdom along the way.
An easy, friendly tone reminds me of Giergach's Trout Bum stories but with some really great insights on how Wright fished, and why he chose what he did, rather than simply a collection of fishing stories. Each chapter deals solely with a new experience, wether it be the ascension of the caddis fly to respected hatch, the use of long rods in the past instead of the craze to shorter rods and even the classic approach and design of the bucktail streamer.
One of the appealing aspects of the book is also one of its biggest downfalls, and that's the outdated time frame in whcih many of the chapters were written. While its noted in the text in several places for the time frame, it can become somewhat frustrating or confusing when he, for instance, gives great detail on the lack of quality hackle and how to obtain it. As I said, both a good and a bad point. It makes me apprechiate how easy it is to find genetic hackle in today's age and the struggle of the '60s and '70s fly angler, but then it can be a bit confusing to read this when quality stuff is simply 30-40 minutes away in a good fly shop, and for a bargin price.
So, in summation, as a much more casual and new angler than many here, Ive taken a real shine to this book. Some people may be familar with him over the years, but I've never heard his name mentioned in any thread on this matter before. One of the points he strives to make is that chances are, someone's done it better and before you (or whomever), and I think this what we should think about. With the availability of these books for only a couple dollars on the used INternet market, its a shame to let a man's accumulated angling wisdom languish in the dust bin of history.
I, for one, recommend this book for someone who finds dry, academic style reading to be boring, but still seeks to learn.
Edited to add:
Trout Maverick by Leonard Wright on Google Books
So, I proceded to sit down and read some of it, and I really enjoyed what I got, so I bought a used copy from Amazon for pennies.
I figured, as I've worked my way through easily a third of it, I'd just go ahead and post my thoughts in a sort of minireview: This is a really enjoyable book.
What I like is that it comes at you, in a way, as less of a teaching aid and seems to float things to you in a more conversational tone, sort of someone sharing their thoughts and peppering in some wisdom along the way.
An easy, friendly tone reminds me of Giergach's Trout Bum stories but with some really great insights on how Wright fished, and why he chose what he did, rather than simply a collection of fishing stories. Each chapter deals solely with a new experience, wether it be the ascension of the caddis fly to respected hatch, the use of long rods in the past instead of the craze to shorter rods and even the classic approach and design of the bucktail streamer.
One of the appealing aspects of the book is also one of its biggest downfalls, and that's the outdated time frame in whcih many of the chapters were written. While its noted in the text in several places for the time frame, it can become somewhat frustrating or confusing when he, for instance, gives great detail on the lack of quality hackle and how to obtain it. As I said, both a good and a bad point. It makes me apprechiate how easy it is to find genetic hackle in today's age and the struggle of the '60s and '70s fly angler, but then it can be a bit confusing to read this when quality stuff is simply 30-40 minutes away in a good fly shop, and for a bargin price.
So, in summation, as a much more casual and new angler than many here, Ive taken a real shine to this book. Some people may be familar with him over the years, but I've never heard his name mentioned in any thread on this matter before. One of the points he strives to make is that chances are, someone's done it better and before you (or whomever), and I think this what we should think about. With the availability of these books for only a couple dollars on the used INternet market, its a shame to let a man's accumulated angling wisdom languish in the dust bin of history.
I, for one, recommend this book for someone who finds dry, academic style reading to be boring, but still seeks to learn.
Edited to add:
Trout Maverick by Leonard Wright on Google Books