Fly Fishing Small Streams

by John Gierach

Small-stream fishing wisdom with the same insight and pungent humor that has become Gierach's trademark. Advice on tackle selecting, reading water, and scouting.

Genres: Nature, Outdoors, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

John Gierach was an American author and freelance writer who lived in Larimer County, Colorado.

Reviews

[AJ]

Wry fly fisherman John Gierach's guide reads like his humorous essays but is a practical manual to techniques and tackle for the prevalent and enjoyable but non-flashy fishing opportunities provided by small streams. He wrote it in the pre-internet 1980s so a section on finding information is a little dated and you won't read about newfangled stuff like Czech nymphing or foam flies. But as the author might say, so what, the other 98% of the advice and commentary is every bit as good today as it was when it was written. Also far more fun to read than anyone else's how-to book.

[Chris Warren]

I give everything by John Gierach – he's that good. This is basically a how to book but even if you are never going to fish a small stream it's worth reading.

[Dj Wells]

Once again, Gierach leads the reader through fishing streams in search of trout. Chapters focusing on favorite flies, favorite rods, and favorite accessories.

[Jack]

Informative but not pedantic

[John]

The author approaches fishing like a forest ecologist I know, explaining the importance of trying to understand each part of a fish’s habitat and how the parts are interrelated to the whole. Next, he emphasizes the importance of a stealthy approach, which is good advice for a casual fisherman like me, who often forgets that fish can feel the pulse of my feet plodding along a stream, and may be spooked by something as seemingly harmless as a fishing rod’s shadow moving across the water. JG succinctly addresses the mechanics of casting, the design of equipment, and the choice of flies, eventually arriving back at the topic of appreciating all dimensions of the home place of the fish you’re trying to catch. First and last, you've got to know the territory.

[Ookla the Mok]

By far my favorite book by Gierach as it addresses the favorite places that I like to fish - small streams. There is so much at play in small-stream fishing that goes beyond simple fishing and John seems to understand both the unique approach that is necessary for success and the unique pleasures of working on a more intimate scale.

Again, by far the best book he's written (in my opinion) and one that I pull out now and then to re-read.

[Doug E.]

His short stories are better. This isn't really original or important. Though it is about my favorite type of fishing and it is well done. I would suggest it if it didn't pale in comparison to his other books.

[Matt Mueller]

An excellent primer on small stream fly fishing, with just enough fishing philosophy and not too much fluff added in to make it both instructional and very readable.

[Mr. Wakiki]

Gierach is a very good essay writer and this book feels more like a story, than a howto book, even though it is a howto book.