WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
Summer brings great weather and longer days which makes for good porch-sitting weather. There is no better way to relax than with an entertaining or informative book on fly fishing. I am a reader, and like most readers, I like to be surrounded by my books.
My collection will soon be giving UNH’s Douglas and Helena Milne Collection of fly fishing books a run for their money. The main difference is that their collection is organized. My collection is in bookcases and piles which makes it problematic to find a book. Below see George Liset with a Great Bay Striper.
Recommending a book is harder for me than suggesting a fly to use. I can be more objective with a fly; however, when it comes to books, I am more subjective. I know what I like. So as I was coming up with some thoughts on what books to recommend I decided to break the books up into a couple of categories. Some specific to fly fishing New Hampshire/ New England, some classics and general suggestions.
We are fortunate to have a number of talented authors here in New England. Steve Angers, the owner of the North Country Angler in North Conway, New Hampshire is the go-to guy when fishing Mount Washington Valley Steve’s book “Fly Fishing New Hampshire’s Secret Waters” is a must for all those who fly fish New Hampshire. Steve shares his knowledge on rivers, streams and ponds where one can find wild brook trout and tells how to fish for them. Steve is a wealth of information and his shop is a must stop when fly fishing the area.
“Fly Fisher’s Guide to New England” by Lou Zambello, is a great resource for all anglers fly fishing in New England. Lou has a nice section on fishing in New Hampshire. Lou is a former L.L. Bean executive and currently a Maine Guide who is a wonderful speaker and photographer. The book has a wealth of information, but what draws one to this book are the beautiful maps and photographs.
The next two authors are Dartmouth College guys which is surprising, because as a University of New Hampshire alum, we were told the Dartmouth guys couldn’t write. These two gentlemen obviously can, and do it well.
“A River Runs Through It” by Norman Maclean is a classic I have read a number of times. Most people are familiar with the movie by the same name, but the book is better. A great summer read.
“Storied Waters” by David A. Van Wie is another I have read numerous times. The book details David’s fly fishing trip to some of the most iconic fly fishing waters from Wisconsin to Maine. Informative and inspirational. Get ready to get your road trip on.
“Trout Bum” by John Gierach is another classic. A look into a fly fisher’s life. Many dream of living the fly fishing life, Gierach does it and does it with style. Gierach has written a number of other books which are all enjoyable.
“Trout Magic” and ‘Trout Madness” by Robert Traver are a couple more classic reads. Traver fishes primarily in upper Michigan, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Travers’ own iconic Frenchmans Pond detailed in Van Wies’ “Storied Waters.”
New Hampshire author W.D. Wetherell’s “Vermont River ” is a story about fly fishing the same river for a year. Although Wetherell doesn’t name the river, most surmise it to be the White River in Vermont which flows into the Connecticut River. Wetherell has an easy style and paints a beautiful picture of a bucolic Vermont.
Many of the books suggested will lead you down the reading rabbit hole. So if you can’t be on the water you can read about being on the water. It is the next best thing! Plus, you don’t need electricity since reading doesn’t leave a carbon footprint.
George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.