Fly-Fishing for Sharks: An American Journey

by Richard Louv

A hilarious chronicle of the world of fishing in America describes the culture in witty detail through stories and experiences, from the Harlem residents who fish in the Hudson, to a West Coast exsurfer flyfishing for sharks.

496 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2000

About the author

Richard Louv, recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal, is the author of seven books, including Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle. The chairman of the Children & Nature Network (www.cnaturenet.org), he is also honorary co-chair of the National Forum on Children and Nature. He has written for the San Diego Union-Tribune, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, and other newspapers and magazines. He has appeared on The Early Show, Good Morning America, Today, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, NPRs Morning Edition, Fresh Air, Talk of the Nation, and many other programs. For more information, visit www.lastchildinthewoods.com.

Reviews

[Ross Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louv’s book puts me in mind of William Least Heat-Moon’s classic 1982 travelogue Blue Highways, though Louv does not write as well as does Least Heat-Moon. The interviews are not well integrated into the larger story that Louv is trying to tell about angling in America, and his reflections on the different “cultures” of fishing are half-baked just as often as not. But there are enough good stories in this book, and enough wisdom from some of those interviewed, to make it worth adding to your library.

Lastly, it should be noted, in case you were wondering, that this book is not about fly-fishing for sharks. Only one of the stories Louv tells features such fishing—but it’s a good one.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to purchase this book after reading one of Richard Louv's columns in the San Diego Union-Tribune. His column presented a fresh and thought provoking take on urban grow. I ultimately found the same level of thoughtfulness in Fly-Fishing for Sharks. His writing is first-class and his style is personal but not over-powering. What's most obvious thoughout the book is his fondness for all things angling. The book manages to cover a range of topics that are as varied as the places he visits. You'll find yourself on an adventure in the remote inland areas of Baja California one moment, and at a fly tackle trade-show in Denver the next.

The single knock I would give the book is the focus given to the "fishing industry" and not the average angler. The book isn't so much about the average American who you'll find fishing their weekends away as it is about the well-known personalities who have shaped fishing and promoted the sport.

[April the Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting book, but tough to get through.It was a slow read, but I learned about fly fishing and some of the personalities involved in the sport. The last 100 pages or so were the best for me, but it was a bit of a struggle to get to that point..

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fishing junkie, and even I thought this book was a little hard to get through at times. But if you are stuck in an airport terminal for hours, I would give it a read.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received this as a gift. I enjoyed the fly fishing parts but could have done without the Bass fishing.