Customer Reviews

Trout Country: Reflections on Rivers, Fly Fishing & Related Addictions

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Book review by Bob Bates, Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club:

"Trout Country" by Bob Saile, formerly an outdoor editor for the Denver Post, is a collection of interesting stories with a bit of history thrown in. The subtitle "Reflections on Rivers, Fly Fishing & Related Addictions" gives a small clue as to what is inside the 19 chapters. He takes us on trips to a variety of places from the rivers of his home state, Colorado, to the wilds of Alaska and several places in between. He also shares with the reader his opinions on fish management and its attendant bureaucracy.

While reading the first chapters, "Chokecherry Heaven," I was convinced that here is a man who loves to fish.... Overall, "Trout Country" is a great collection of stories.

Trout Country: Reflections On Rivers, Fly Fishing & Related Addictions is a collection of stories by veteran angler Bob Saile that takes the reader to waters both famed and obscure and shares Saile's deep appreciation for trout resources, insights into fly-fishing tactics, tributes to famed fly-fisherman, and frank opinions on fish management, and angling ethics. These are memorable, engaging, superbly told stories that celebrate trout fishing in rivers, creeks, lakes across "trout country". Trout Country will prove welcome and pleasurable reading for anyone who has ever experienced the thrill of trout fishing.

This book by Bob Saile is a must-have component of any serious angler's library -- a study in honesty, accuracy, and carefully-thought anecdotes from a master. Unlike some fly-fishing writers who seem wrapped up in attitude, or demonstrating what and how much they know (that you don't) Saile's focus in on the essence of this sport, the people, the places, the traditions. His stories are unassuming, yet enlightening. Living in the Rockies, and having fished the places he writes about, with many of the characters he describes, I can tell you that his words are dead-center. You will realize (in a subtle manner) that Saile has literally seen and done more between the riverbanks than most of us could hope to experience. As a writer, and an angler, Saile is the master technician ... the real deal.

Bob Saile takes us on a journey through Colorado with a fly rod in hand, and trout in mind. As a long time sports writer, he definitely knows what he is talking about here, but unfortunately, he is not a great writer. The content isn't particulary groundbreaking, and the writing is perhaps best described as ordinary, newspaper coloum style. Some of the more philosophical reflections in the book, are overly simplistic and somewhat unfounded. It does not offer insight nor does it challenge the reader, it simply conveys the (often boring and unfounded) opinions of the author. In all fairness, it is by no means a bad book, and Saile definitely has his moments where the reader will find himself chuckling. It is worth reading, but do not mistake it for a milestone of fly fishing literature.