Book Review- Astream: American Writers on Fly Fishing

Author’s Note: With the heat outside this weekend, I decided that reading about a good fishing adventure was probably a better idea than actually fishing.
Having a blog is a great deal of work. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy every second of it. It is wonderful to share my adventures with the friends and family that truly appreciate nice pictures, some pretty video and the mediocrity of my stories. There are very few perks that come with this homework. One of the best is the ability to relive the many details of the trips I have taken. Another great perk is the friends that I have made because of this tool. No one is showering me with praise or sending me free gear to use or talk about. There are no delusions of grandeur here; this blog will never make me rich. I only want to share my stories, pictures and videos with those who are willing to read, look and appreciate a good fishing adventure.
Which brings me to this post: Recently I received a gift in the mail. I love gifts. This gift was a book about fly fishing. I love books. Professor Bob Demott sent me an email asking for my address. He wrote that he wanted to send me a book because he enjoyed the blog. Skeptically, I sent him my address and two days later received a beautifully edited anthology of short stories about our beloved fly fishing. Astream: American Writers on Fly Fishing is a beautiful hardback book that includes thirty short stories written by some very well known authors in the fly fishing world and some not so very well known authors. I was anxious to dive in and realized instantly that it would deserve some attention here.
I was excited when I noticed that Bob had dedicated the book to his friend Nick Lyons. I have been a fan of Nick’s since I first read Spring Creek many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction written by the editor himself. Bob’s explanation of why we write stories about fishing and the stories of his own youth and interest in the sport gave the collection a fishing buddy personality. His eloquence and grace with the language left me impressed. This is a highly educated man that has an obvious love for fly fishing and the written word with which it is so often shared. If this man thought these stories were worthy of sharing in a book, I was excited about the journey I was about to begin.
I am of a mindset that books and stories are not meant to be read in a day. I think they should be slowly digested over time. Stories should lend themselves to the imagination and allow the reader to daydream their way in. These stories did just that. I slowly read each one and imagined myself there in the waters, woods, and scenery so often described. It was wonderful to dance my way through each story with so many different points of view of the adventures being shared. Each story allowed me to take a different trip to some different fishing destination. They allowed me the opportunity to fish when I was unable.
I am very thankful that there are men like Bob Demott teaching at Universities in our great state. His passion for fly fishing and his dedication to the written language leave me with a greater sense of hope. In a world full of ridiculous text messages and abbreviations, it is comforting to know that there are still men who teach the importance of a well written word and that are willing to share the beauty and passion of stories written with such words. I was also very thankful to know that Bob survived his swimming experience on the Madison.
This collection of words turned out to be a wonderful gift that will be treasured and shared with many of my friends. I would highly encourage all of you to find your own copy of Bob’s beautifully edited book. It is well worth reading. As the summer months miserably warm our waters, this book will allow you the escape of a wonderful fishing adventure. You can find your own copy on Amazon or do a search for one of the professors speaking engagements in the area. You won’t be sorry.