Trout Bum. (edition 1986)

Gierach's probably fly fishing's most widely read essayist, a testament to his deceptively folksy writing (he packs a lot of meaning into a few words) and his absolute commitment to the fly fishing life.

Fly fishers will have to admire his tenacity; early in his life, Gierach decided to fly fish for a living, and he made it happen.

Trout Bum was first published in 1986, and this 20th Anniversary hardcover edition of Trout Bum includes new forewords from other fly fishing writers.

In between, Gierach has published a long list of essay books (and a small handful of how-to efforts).

Gierach doesn't waste a lot of words on gear and how-to information -- he's living the life so many fly fishers can only dream of, and writing about it in a direct, friendly, accessible manner. ( )

I love this book and anything by this author.
When I first delved into this particular book, I was instantly hooked. I promptly jumped online to amazon.com and ordered the next book, then every couple days after that I would order another until I felt that I had purchased enough of his books that I could read to my little hearts content without interruption.
This book is the reason that I took the plunge and bought my fly rod and reel and succumbed to the fly fishing disease.
The humor, the descriptions that are embroidered in the short stories and essays draw you onto the river bank or into the river, basically where he is, you are there too. ( )