At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman [Hardcover]

John Gierach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2, 2003

"At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman" is a journey through the year with America's finest fishing writer, John Gierach. The journey begins with an early spring expedition to Wyoming, where the dirt roads are still covered with a thin sheen of ice that quickly turns to mud underfoot. The conditions are so uninviting that everyone involved agrees they must be crazy to be fishing so early in the season. But, as Gierach observes, "nothing makes a fisherman happier than to have just proved that he must be crazy." Gierach's fishing year ends with a winter fly-fishing trip in the Colorado Rockies, a time of year when, Gierach says, "it's still possible to have what seems like a whole river all to yourself." Of course, the chances of catching any fish are small, a situation about which Gierach comments, "Anyone would go fishing thinking he'll catch something. It's when you go figuring you probably won't that you know you've crossed some kind of line."

In between, Gierach entertains us as always, mixing the one-liners about the fishing life with deeper insights into friendship, how we spend our time, and why nature still matters to us.

"At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman" contains Gierach's trademark blend of humor and acuity. Comparing trout and carp, he says, "If you wanted a fish that could sip white wine and discuss Italian poetry, you'd look for a trout. If you needed a ditch dug, you'd hire a carp." Commenting on the value of a good map, he observes, "It seems like I've spent half my life trying to locate myself on maps, either just out of curiosity or to answer specific questions like Where the hell am I?' and 'How do I get out of here?' Gierach offers his opinions on theetiquette of sharing secret fishing spots, the ethics of lying to protect these spots, the secretive subculture of bamboo rods, and many other topics important to fishermen everywhere.

Above all, however, Gierach understands that the real pleasure in fishing is greater than the sum of its accessories. He describes fish, mountain streams, birch thickets, and the joy of a beautiful day outdoors with a naturalist's eye and appreciation. And he understands fishing like the sage observer that he is: Fishing is one of the few ways I know of to let go of the past, forget about the future, and live in the moment."

Keenly observed and wryly recorded as always, John Gierach's latest book of fishing adventures and misadventures is sure to be enjoyed by anyone who fishes -- and everyone who wishes he fished more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

These 20 magazine columns-most from Field & Stream-follow Gierach's year of outings in Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and Pennsylvania, and include some of his best strokes of style since Sex, Death and Flyfishing. Each travelogue plucks the required notes of Gierach's angling country song formula: a conversational, self-deprecating voice; good-humored reporting from the Eden streams of the West, appreciation for his local angling fraternity. Fishing-is-the-antidote-to-real-life is the axis of every Gierach collection, and several of these stories are convincing as well as entertaining. The angling reader already understands perfectly well the real reason Gierach is perched on the back of an ATV with a Labrador retriever riding through heavy May mud to reach remote ranchland ponds. As Gierach gets older, his reach into his angling hat is slower but he pulls out better rabbits: "If you wanted a fish that could sip white wine and discuss Italian poetry, you'd look for a trout. If you need a ditch dug, you'd hire a carp." The title reference is to a streamside marker dedicated to a deceased conservationist that Gierach seems to acknowledge is the epitaph for anyone who, like himself, spends his life in the thrall of something as gloriously inconsequential as fly-fishing.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The author of numerous fishing classics offers his first book of linked essays.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Third edition edition (April 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743229924
• ISBN-13: 978-0743229920
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Gierach is the author of several previous books, including At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman, Standing in a River Waving a Stick, and Dances with Trout. His work has appeared in Gray's Sporting Journal, Field & Stream, where he is a contributing writer, and Fly Rod & Reel, where he is a columnist. He also writes columns for the Longmont (CO) Daily Times-Call and the monthly Redstone Review. He lives in Lyons, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John continues a strong streak, April 19, 2003

By 

Former Rater (Nowhere) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman (Hardcover)

Mr. Gierach has published another fine compilation of his marvelous short stories. The craft of writing is never easy and crafting short stories is far more difficult than blathering on for page after page in a mighty tome.

I could easily read this in an hour or two, but I'm reading these stories one-at-a-time because I want to enjoy each new story in its own space. I guess I'm savoring this book as if it was some fine wine or a great pastry...you simply don't gulp it down.

Thanks again for your fine writing, Mr. Gierach. The art of writing short fly fishing stories is a difficult one to master and Mr. Prosek, Mr. Leeson, Ms. Proulx, Mr. Luce, Mr. Babb, Mr. Proper, Mr. McGuane and Nick and Mari Lyons have all made the grade. I won't try to rank any of these fine contemporary authors (though Mr. Prosek's watercolors and Mari Lyons' illustrations (not all watercolors) add a fine edge to the text in their works).

Mr. McGuane notes on the slipcover that Mr. Gierach out fished him the last time they were on the stream together and that he would have been willing to give Mr. Gierach faint praise (if only to even the score), but Mr. McGuane - an honest fisherman (apologies to Sparse) - correctly rates the quality of this fine work (who would put a bad review on the slipcover, anyway?).

I own all of Mr. Gierach's works and this is one of his best. Literate, humorous, and a nice guide for those of us who are a bit younger . . .we can see how a little more living helps hone an individual's perception of the important things in life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fly Fishing Meat and Potatoes, January 22, 2004

By 

Gregg Perez "Goyo" (Tecumseh, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman (Hardcover)

I've read almost all of Gierach's books and this is another great collection of fishing stories told in his naturally witty style. He's still fishing with his old friends like A.K. Best. He still writes about his affinity for bamboo rods, carp, grayling, bass ponds, Green Drakes and the good ol' days. He still writes mostly about fishing in Colorado, and the neighboring states around his home. And, his writing always contains a slew of witty Zen philosophy one-liners and this one is no different. What's new in this book is his explanation of his move from his old cabin along the St. Vrain River to his new home three miles away. His old cabin was a pretty common subject in his past books and it was a little sad to hear about it's demise. He also updates the reader about his new work in the local paper the "Redstone Review" which his new girlfriend publishes. If you didn't know any better you would think that the good ol' "Trout Bum" was settling down a little and getting a little sentimental in his later years.

Well, whatever you want to call John Gierach, "trout bum", or "avid fisherman" there is no doubt that he is a fine fisherman. He writes about fly fishing in a no nonsense kind of way. He doesn't sugar coat anything. You get a meat and potatoes image of fly fishing that's wry, funny, sentimental, and informative. As a Midwesterner, I really relate to his blue collar style, which is one of the reasons why Gierach continues to be my favorite fly fishing author. You're more apt to read fishing stories that involve old beat up trucks rather than fancy SUV's. If this is your first Gierach book and you like his style, I suggest you also read "Death, Taxes, and Leaky Waders", which is a compilation of his favorite stories from his previous books.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Observant, wry & well written notes on the fishing life, September 1, 2003

By 

gfweb "gfweb" (pa USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman (Hardcover)

It is amazing that John Gierach can keep putting out interesting books on essentially the same topic without getting very repetitious. This is another compilation of essays in a long series chronicling his fishing life and the issues that have impact upon it.

His first book, Trout Bum, established his persona...a trout-obsessed fly-fisher who puts everything in life second to the sport. Whether or not this is actually true we don't know, but I suspect that it is pretty much accurate. Unlike most of the bums that I've known(ski bums, golf bums, bass bums) Gierach has managed to make a living from his obsession. I guess that this is a good thing for him...it certainly is good for his readers!