Where the Trout Are All as Long as Your Leg

by John Gierach

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.

Fly-fishing’s finest scribe, John Gierach, takes us from a nameless stream on a nameless ranch in Montana to a secret pool off a secret creek where he caught a catfish as a five-year-old, to a brook full of rattlesnakes and a private pond where the trout are all as long as your leg. As Gierach says, “The secret places are the soul of fishing.” Hearing about a new one never fails to entice us.

And so Where the Trout Are All as Long as Your Leg transports the reader to the best of these places, where the fish are always bigger and the hatches last forever. After all, it’s these magical places that Gierach so vividly evokes that remind us how precious—and precarious—are the unspoiled havens of the natural world.

Genres: Outdoors, Nonfiction, Sports

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

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

Reviews

[James Windale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent short read I was able to accomplish mostly at a standby at work. This one is from 1991 as the copyright suggests, and talks some about global warming, or as we call it now climate change. Despite his chronically Left lean he’s a delight to read, the biggest bugaboo with this one was that it was so short.

What I like about John is that he manages to write about living a life that I might enjoy if I weren’t more inclined to have a family and stability in faith. He tells some amazing stories about trips to the kind of places you read about in Field and Stream, trips of a lifetime depending on what sort of life you’re living. His social, political, and philosophical commentary tend to make me cringe, but I’m always drawn back. He’s so genuinely sincere in his beliefs, and I have to give him credit where it’s due.

Even if he’s sincerely wrong at times 😉

[Nickle Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still haven't read anything by John Gierach that I don't enjoy. His stories are like listening to an old-timer talk about the good old days. This book was no different. It was a relaxing, easy read.

[Chris Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something of an anomaly as it is so short, just 84 pages but they are 84 pages of absolute quality, and basically about one subject, secret fishing places. It remains a must read.

[Sam Jowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun little book to read. I felt like I was right there fishing with them.
I wish I knew his email address.

[James E Sylvain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly short. Great read but it seemed to be a very quick read. I’m enjoying the author so… I will continue to read more of his work.

[Tia Seymanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a bad read from Gierach!

[David Pomper · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one writes about the world and experiences of fly fishing like Gierach.