Neil Patterson's decision to convert a dilapidated old stable into a true home for himself and his family, and his ability thereby to fish the river intimately, month by month, hatch by hatch, in fair weather and foul, form the heart of this remarkable memoir.
His angling idyll records the realities and the rewards of his choice: life in a damp, half-built house that first winter, and the rare chance to know a great chalkstream and the characters who fish it with great intimacy. His restless, inventive mind leads him to observe the life of the river frequently missed by occasional visitors.
He even develops a host of highly original fly patterns - like the Funneldun, the Caddox and the Deerstalker, now known internationally - and perfects fly-fishing techniques and theories of immense value to fishermen world wide.
No serious fly fisherman will want to miss this engaging, practical and penetrating memoir.
