Posts tagged: fly fishing writing

Five Things You Learn About John Gierach Poking Around on Amazon (Plus New Book Release Info)

August 18, 2010, by 7 comments

John Gierach is likely fly fishing’s pre-eminent essayist, so when word of his next book hits the streets, we’re there to broadcast it – even if all we have is a title…

1. John Gierach’s next book is titled “No Shortage of Good Days” and is set for release on May 17, 2011

2. Many of Gierach’s titles were released in Kindle format (Amazon’s ebook reader) on May 11, 2010, though Trout Bum is apparently not available in electronic format.

3. A single copy of his Signs of Life book of poetry is on sale for… $686 (note: copies of the book were recently available from Mike Clark’s fly shop for less than $30).

4. Typo City: A leather-bound version of Trout Bum was issued, though on Amazon, it’s oddly titled Trout Burn.

5. False Casting: Somebody’s apparently trying to cash in on the reputations of John Gierach and Arnold Gingrich by issuing a Kindle ebook titled “Fly Fishing Mastery” and listing the two famous writers as authors. Yet based on the horrendous writing in the sample passage included, it’s clear neither writer had anything to do with it:

Fly fishing is a challenging method of catching fish. Anglers having been introduced to fly fishing determine that fly fishing is enjoyable. It gives them a way to broaden their angling experience by learning the new tackle, the new language and methods used in fly fishing. They also discover there is no limit to the types of locations you can fly fish. The areas chosen for fly fishing are some of the most scenic places. Even if you do not catch a fish, you will be in awe of the beauty of Mother Nature.

Yes, we’re definitely in awe.

See you in the library, Tom Chandler.

Another Online Magazine? This One’s Aiming High…

May 17, 2010, by 17 comments

Online e-zines are popping up like mushrooms in the TU/Man Cave World Headquarters (anyone know for sure what a morel looks like?).

Many are clearly commercial endeavors, and while the Underground is frequently asked to promote them (sometimes with a suggestion that we all “owe it to the sport”), I’m reluctant to deliver my audience – especially given the near-universal lack of any return support for the blogging community.

(If that suggests I’m in the midst of a cynical phase, your instincts may be right.)

Fortunately, there are still a few real products of the digital revolution out there, and I’ve mentioned a few; the Sleeping in the Dirt magazine and the brilliant StoryArc literary blog among them.

Now it appears there’s a new literary e-zine on the scene (at least there will be in Fall of 2010).

Rise Forms publishes high-quality, literary work that conveys the passion and contemplative nature of fly fishing. Emphasis should not only be on what is said, but on how it is said, seeking to capture both the voice of the modern fly fisher, while also reflecting on the rich traditions of past angling authors. Pieces should be well-crafted and polished with attention to language and how it is used to express ideas and convey the emotional experience.

Rise Forms may or may not survive longer than your average literary endeavor (the half life of which can often be measured in months, not years), but aiming high at least offers the suggestion of nobility (sadly, aiming low often “suggests” more cash).

See you online, Tom Chandler.

Underground Fav Hugh Koontiz (The Maestro of Meaty Metaphor) Blogs!

December 2, 2008, by 2 comments

The Underground has long held an appreciation for writer Hugh Koontz – a North Carolina-based newspaper editor who writes about fly fishing – often employing the wildest, most over-the-top metaphors we’ve read.

The Maestro of Metaphor now has his own blog, so those with a desire for a daily metaphorical fix – and some nice writing along the way – should tune in. What will you find? Metaphors like:

The air was cold enough to force me to switch hands carrying the rod every minute or so, and a rain as steady as life’s miseries spit in my face.

or,

I set out to find new water. I left the three lonely, fishless fly fishers and strolled along a soft carpet of leaves soggy as cornflakes. The path, when I could see it, felt like a thick rug.

Even if you’re not entranced by his metaphors, his simple, direct style is worth a look:

As engineers, beavers have few peers. While their abodes did not impress me with their aesthetic qualities, they were sturdy. It really looked like somebody spilled a truckfull of sticks.

It was pretty though. After a couple tries with the yellow fly, I sat back to drink all this in. Tall brown grass rimmed the ponds. The mountains were smoking through the mist. The sky looked like a freshly painted battleship from my hometown of Norfolk, VA.

And the air tasted sweet and clean.

I asked Kevin Howell of Davidson River Outfitters if there were, indeed, trout in those ponds, and he assured me there were but that late spring and early summer were the best times to fish there. Come back later.

See you on the Internet, Tom Chandler.

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