Cast Again: Tales of a Fly-Fishing Guide [Hardcover]

Jennifer Olsson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

Jennifer Olsson's dozen tales, fueled by her experiences as a fishing guide in Montana, introduce us to a colorful panoply of clients: a wealthy, middle-aged woman forced by her husband to learn to fly fish, who talks the author into taking her shopping instead; a young woman who is determined to fish despite her boyfriend's disdain for the sport; a man who, given just a few months to live, miraculously recovered and has looked forward to his day of fishing for years. We are taken to the pristine trout streams of Montana, to the tarpon flats of the Florida Keys, and to the icy rivers of Sweden to fish for grayling.

Cast Again is also the story of a woman's life built around fly fishing and the aesthetics, ethics, beauty, and rhythms of the days that define the angling life. It will appeal immensely to all fly fishers, especially to the legions of women just discovering the sport, but also anyone seeking a life more connected to the natural world and more dictated by the heart's desires. Crisp as perfect casts, the essays in Cast Again are funny, poignant, fresh, and vibrating with life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Jennifer Olsson is a spy in the ranks; her keen eye for detail and generous spirit make Cast Again a pleasure to read and a lesson to anyone bent on introducing a loved one to fly-fishing. A guide in Montana for more than 10 years before becoming a full-time writer, Olsson's voice is that of the infiltrator. She smuggles the usual bits of information--the dilemmas of a difficult sport--from the front but deciphers them through her own unique perspective. In "I'd Like to Get My Wife into Fly-Fishing," the narrator (also a fly-fishing guide named Jennifer) and her freshly coiffed client spend a day shopping on the sly at the western boutiques instead of fishing. In "Just One," the same narrator struggles to snare a fish for her inexperienced client, and when the woman finally lands a big, beautiful brown trout, the narrator hopes that her client's waiting husband won't ask, "Just one?" These are stories that sparkle and instruct. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

It is refreshing to hear from a woman about a sport long dominated by men. Since her first cast, at 13, Olsson has felt a special communication with waters. In 1985, she became a licensed fishing guide and instructor (on her first trip as a guide, she forgot her wading boots). Olsson spins entertaining stories about her clients: a wealthy, middle-aged woman whose husband insisted she learn to fly-fish persuades the author to take her shopping instead; a man who had been seriously ill finds utter joy in a day of fishing; a disgruntled client's day is spoiled by his failure to catch a fish. Olsson describes fishing in Swedish Lapland; she recalls fishing with friends and family, and teaching her eight-year-old son to fish. These tales will please anglers of both sexes, any age. Illustrated.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558214429
• ISBN-13: 978-1558214422
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,943,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fly fishing book of a different pattern, September 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cast Again: Tales of a Fly-Fishing Guide (Paperback)

I had the privilege of being guided several times by Jennifer Olsson before she retired, and I found her dedicated, enthusiastic, patient, humorous and empathetic. Her stories reflect all of these qualities. In the same way that she made sure each client had the kind of fishing experience he or she had come to Montana hoping to have, Jennifer gives her readers the chance to find what they're looking for in each of these narratives. What's missing (not lacking) is the & q u o t ; Y o u -too-can-catch-huge-trout-if-you'll-only-master-this-simple-technique" bombast found in so many other fishing books. What's here for many, I think, is the answer to the often asked question, "What is it that gets you so excited about fly fishing?" Read the book. If you don't know anything about fly fishing, you'll learn much about the sport and all the different kinds of people who are drawn to it. If you're already a fly fisher, you'll often find yourself smiling a been-there-done-that smile. Either way, when you put the book down, you'll probably want to go fishing.

4.0 out of 5 stars cast again, October 10, 2010

By 

Atle - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cast Again: Tales of a Fly-Fishing Guide (Paperback)

CAST AGAIN, by Jennifer Olsson

Jennifer Olsson writes humorouesly and witty about her experiences both as guide for fly anglers, and beeing a woman in such a job. She is a sharp observer and tells her stories honestly and gives us insight in the flyfishing environment. I liked reading this book.

I purchased this book at Amazon.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cast Again, December 22, 2000

By 

Becky Russell (Olympia, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cast Again: Tales of a Fly-Fishing Guide (Hardcover)

The book reflected the author's love of fly-fishing. However, the way in which it was written would make it appeal more to women than men. If one was intending to purchase this for an older male it probably would not be appreciated.