Customer Reviews

The Moon Pulled Up an Acre of Bass: A Flyrodder's Odyssey at Montauk Point

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While it is certainly the case that flyfishing has given rise to more good writing than any sport other than baseball, it is also the case that the pleasures of this literature tend to be somewhat refined. Flyfishing is, for the most part, the pursuit of the leisure classes, the rest of use spinning reels to baitfish or to go after bass with a variety of garish lures. We associate bass fishing with the sound of overpowerful boats and the sour smell of stale beer. Flyfishing gives off a faint whiff of soggy tweed, mixed with pipe tobacco and perhaps a fine brandy. Your ne'er-do-well uncle bass fishes, your successful granddad flyfished. All of which makes Peter Kaminsky's new book something of a rarity; kind of a more muscular, less cultured, less aristocratic, flyfishing memoir.
In large part this is owing to the setting that Kaminsky has chosen; no trips to Idaho or Montana here; no Australian Outback or Scottish Highlands; instead he spends the late Summer/early Fall out at Montauk Point, Long Island, fishing with friends and family, guides and sportsmen, locals and commercial fisherman for stiped bass, albacore, and the like. Both the type of fishing--for bigger fish, on rough seas, battling surfcasters and other boats--and the crowded and competitive conditions make this much different than the typical pastoral treatise on flyfishing. It's a very New York kind of fishing going on here, democratic and combative.
Beyond the unusual milieu, the book is a must read for the quality of Kaminsky's prose.... Fall's just around the corner now, and if you can't get to Montauk, this book's the next best thing.
GRADE : A

A great read. I'm not a fisherman and in fact I've never gone fishing but this book is filled with such natural and lyrical beauty that I (and other non-fishing folk) could fully appreciate the wonderful portrait of Montauk and its people that Kaminsky has drawn. I may never pick up a flyrod but I will (and have) heartily recommend(ed) this book to the most stubborn land-lubber.

The Moon Pulled Up An Acre Of Bass

Fishing, cooking, and having a good time with your friends at your favorite vacation house, what could get better than that? That's the "good life" described by Peter Kaminsky in his nonfiction novel The Moon Pulled Up An Acre Of Bass.
Kaminsky shared his humorous fishing stories in October 2000 throughout the whole book. He picked the month of October because of the great fishing experiences he had with bass fishing and many other fish. One of his memorable moments was when he termed the expression "The moon pulled up an acre of bass." He used this term when he stood in amazement and shock while gazing at the water with what he called an "Acre" of bass while the moon glared at his face. Beside being a great fisherman and having a love of fishing, Kaminsky loved other things.
One of the things he loved to do was he loved to cook. He would love to catch fish, have friends over and then cook the fish in his kitchen that he loved. He said the kitchen had "Acres of counter space." Also what he liked to do was to spend time with his friends onshore and offshore. When he was with his friends he became a great fisherman. This happened because all his good fisherman friends gave him all various kinds of advice, which added up to him being a great fisherman. For example, one of his friends taught him how to cast under the wind on a windy day. This was great for him because then he could basically fish whenever he wanted since gusty weather wouldn't make it difficult for him.
Overall I really liked this book because I could connect to it so much. I could do this because I also have a love of fishing and the book takes place on Long Island. I have much background information of Long Island because I live there. As you can see, this book was mainly about Peter Kaminsky and his love of fishing with his friends. Since he and his friends were hilarious, this book turned out to be filled with humor. I really liked this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fishing, comedy, and nonfiction novels.

Very readable account of the striper fishing frenzy in the fall at the tip of LI. As a (former) windsurfer I could relate to the pilgrimages you make to the right places at the right times to take part in your passion. Combine this with someone who knows what's important in life and knows how to write--and you've got a good book.

The author gives us a great look into not only the stiper fishng world, but the culture and heritage of the east coast. A pleasure to read, cover to cover. Even for those of us that may never see stripers in the salt, this is defintely a worthwhile read.

Kaminsky's book is a perfect read about not only the world class fishing we have at Montauk in the Fall, but the cast of characters involved in it. He artfully describes what is fishing that others only dream about, as well as those who over the past decade have come to open an entirely new fishery (flyfishing in saltwater)and their personalities, infighting and expertise. This is a great book, and a must read for any angler.

I enjoyed the book and the concept, but the fawning treatment of certain guides (that probably gave Kaminisky free rides) read too much like promotional materials.

Very readable account of the striper fishing frenzy in the fall at the tip of LI. As a (former) windsurfer I could relate to the pilgrimages you make to the right places at the right times to take part in your passion. Combine this with someone who knows what's important in life and knows how to write--and you've got a good book.

I am a few chapters into this book and I have been enjoying it so far. The writing is good, clear, etc. The only problem I have is with the paperback version. As other have stated the actual print size is so tiny in the paperback version that it makes it very difficult to read. I find myself only able to look at the print for a short period of time before I have to put it down. I would recomend the hard cover version (or kindle if it is available) if you are going to purchase.

While this book is certainly about fishing, the author writes in a style that lures in all types. This is an easy, fun read; short chapters, interesting anecdotes and captivating prose.