All Fishermen Are Liars (John Gierach's Fly-fishing Library)

This €œelegiac tribute to the elusive art and ineffable pleasure of fly-fishing€ (Kirkus Reviews) shows us why life€s most valuable lessons€"and some of its best experiences€"are found while fly-fishing.

For John Gierach, €œthe master of fly-fishing€ (Sacramento Bee), fishing is always the answer€"even when it€s not clear what the question is. In All Fishermen Are Liars, Gierach travels around North America seeking out quintessential fishing experiences, whether it€s at a busy stream or a secluded lake hidden amid snow-capped mountains. He talks about the art of fly-tying and the quest for the perfect steelhead fly (€œThe Nuclear Option€), about fishing in the Presidential Pools previously fished by the elder George Bush (€œI wondered briefly if I€d done something karmically disastrous and was now fated to spend the rest of my life breathing the exhaust of this elderly Republican€), and the importance of traveling with like-minded companions when caught in a soaking rain (€œAt this point someone is required to say, €˜You know, there are people who wouldn€t think this is fun€€). And though Gierach loses some fish along the way, he never loses his passion and sense of humor.

Wry, contemplative, and lively€"that is to say, pure Gierach€"All Fishermen Are Liars is a joy to read€"and, as always, the next best thing to fishing itself. €œFrom the early days€¦to his present cult status, Gierach€s candor and canniness at the water€s edge have been consistent€¦His grizzled, laconic persona is engaging and the voice of the common angler€ (The Wall Street Journal).