Astream: American Writers on Fly Fishing

by Robert DeMott (Editor), Howell Raines (Foreword)

This marvelous collection features stories from some of America’s finest and most respected writers about one of the world’s most solitary and satisfying sports: fly fishing. For the first time, the stories of thirty-one acclaimed writers including Guy de la Valdène, Jim Harrison, Michael Keaton, Sydney Lea, Ted Leeson, Nick Lyons, Thomas McGuane, Joseph Monninger, Le Anne Schreiber, and many others come together in one collection.

Flyfishers and nonflyfishers alike will recognize in these poignant tales the universal aspects of the appreciation of nature, the necessity of conservation, and the joy and knowledge that come from time spent on freshwater and saltwater. This is a delightful, handsome volume that captures the allure and spirit of fly fishing and those who love it.

Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for fishermen. Our books for anglers include titles that focus on fly fishing, bait fishing, fly-casting, spin casting, deep sea fishing, and surf fishing. Our books offer both practical advice on tackle, techniques, knots, and more, as well as lyrical prose on fishing for bass, trout, salmon, crappie, baitfish, catfish, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Robert DeMott is an American author, scholar, and editor best known for his influential scholarship on writer John Steinbeck, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of fly fishing essays by some fine american authors. Surprisingly, the essay by actor Michael Keaton was a favorite. Most of the essays are top notch with a few clunkers penned by authors more in love with themselves than their quarry. Pam Houston's offering was typically excellent - but most other essays by female authors weren't to my taste. When a volume includes Thomas McGuane, Jim Harrison, Guy de la Valdène, and Pam Houston, I'm game, no matter the subject matter.

Recommended for fly casters mostly - but most anglers who read would probably enjoy this collection too.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most collections, there are some stories that are excellent and a few that are a bit less so. But none are actually bad, or even close to it, and overall this book is very good.

[Gene]

This is a fine analogy that will appeal to anyone who is genuinely engrossed with fly-fishing. Likely you will close the book as I did, ready to dig deeper into the writings of several of the contributors.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book with some of the best fly fishing writers out there. Highly recommended.

[Michael Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that expounded upon my knowledge of fly fishing. Most of the stories here were fantastic. Some were just so-so. Overall a great book though.