Dances With Trout

by John Gierach

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

With the wry humor and wit that have become his trademark, John Gierach writes about his travels in search of good fishing and even better fish stories. In this new collection of essays on fishing —and hunting—Gierach discusses fishing for trout in Alaska, for salmon in Scotland and for almost anything in Texas. He offers his perceptive observations on the subject of ice-fishing, getting lost, fishing at night, tournaments and the fine art of tying flies. Gierach also shares his hunting technique, which involves reading a good book and looking up occasionally to see if any deer have wandered by.

Always entertaining, often irreverent and illuminating, Gierach invites readers into his enviable way of life, and effortlessly sweeps them along. As he writes in Dances with Trout , “Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It’s not even clear if catching fish is actually the point.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Outdoors, Nature, Essays, Memoir

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

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

Reviews

[Fred Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

We lost the author (John Gierach)of this book this past week. Every book I have read his writing is simple, fluid and funny with many flyfishing lessons and angler can use to improve not only his fly fishing , but his life and overall connection with nature. He does this in an old school and refreshing way. A way that teaches values through outdoor experiences that will impact your life. I know nobody who has this style of writing that connects the love of flyfishing with the up and downs of life, winning and losing, frustration and joy, etc. he will be missed but his books will live on. I will continue to read and reread them.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Gierach's ability to capture the essence of fly-fishing (this book contains several chapters on his hunting adventures as well). Although I am not as deeply buried as he is in incessant travel to great fishing locales, nor am I a fly tier (color blindness affects that), being on or in a river in the wilderness by myself, or with my sons or other dear friends, is, for me, simply as good as this life offers, and Gierach knows just how to write about that experience.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fishing and outdoors stories. Very easy bedtime reading.

[Valerie K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheers to John Gierach who recently passed away and a leader in the trout community.

[Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read

My favorite Gierach book. Just reading it makes me want to stand in a river and wave a stick. Hopefully not fall in.

[Kierkegaard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read a fly fishing book for a fly fishing class. Entertaining, but I wouldn't read again.

[Verity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much of a sportwoman/person but am interested in fishing and found the comparison between salmon fishing and sex (p.102) hilarious! Also want to try the recipe on p.62.

[Levi Sullivan]

I'll say only this: It's a Gierach book...you'd have to be an asshole to think it's not perfect. Well, that's not entirely true, I suppose. After reading Sex, Death and Fly-Fishing the other week, I will say that I ever so slightly prefer that book to this. Even so, I stubbornly stand by my previous statement.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Gierach's entertaining accounts of fishing and camping move beyond just "fishing stories", which I assumed is all they were from the cover of the audio-cassette. Refreshingly, he masterfully tells experiences with colorful friends, meeting interesting locals and partaking in the local culture, dealing with wildlife, whether it's spotting the unusual bird, or chasing the legendary fish, and will often will go on interesting tangents with history lessons, (about remote and natural Bonsai plants being illegally smuggled out of the woods) or information gathered from the local lore about fish and animal behaviors (a mysterious fish mounted on the local bar wall that no one knows how old is it..just where it was caught, or a pink mildew that grows on snow and is said to taste like watermelon and have a hallucinogenic effect). All the stories are filled with humanity and witty insight into the human condition. There's also a sentimental-type appreciation for the time spent with and observing nature, and skills it takes to tie flys and fly fish. (Think similar to the movie "A River Runs Through It") I'm definitely looking forward to reading some of his other books.

If you're into ecology and enjoy learning about how elements of an ecosystem interact, there's plenty of that in here for you as well.

The stories seem so filled with interesting, unexpected details, they're the kind of stories you couldn't make up if you tried.

[Doug E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about Gierach in an article on him by Tom Bie and this was the only book available in the library. He comes across as a very down to earth kind of guy. I think my favorite quotation is "A tournament that accurately represented all the subtleties of fly-fishing doesn't exist and probably never will. It would have to have not only casting and fish-catching competitions, but also categories for fashion . . . not to mention lunch and wine selection, the invention and naming of fly patterns, bird and edible plant identification, good-heartedness, humor, lying, trespassing, philosophical detachment, creative misdirection of fellow anglers and so on." He writes about a lot of different types and styles of fishing while poking fun at pretty much every fisherman and fishing style there is, even his own.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"With the wry humor and wit that have become his trademark, John Gierach writes about his travels in search of good fishing and even better fish stories. In this new collection of essays on fishing -- and hunting -- Gierach discusses fishing for trout in Alaska, for salmon in Scotland and for almost anything in Texas. He offers his perceptive observations on the subject of ice-fishing, getting lost, fishing at night, tournaments and the fine art of tying flies. Gierach also shares his hunting technique, which involves reading a good book and looking up occasionally to see if any deer have wandered by.

"Always entertaining, often irreverent and illuminating, Gierach invites readers into his enviable way of life, and effortlessly sweeps them along."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[R.E. Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books and have read through it several times. John has a way of placing you in the moment, then reminding you of the smallist of things. Things that you certainly noticed, but would not have commented on otherwise. He however, see's it and puts it in words. I have yet to read a book of his that I did not enjoy.

[Guia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a lot more interesting than fishing itself.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to admit, I'm a Gierach addict. Though the theme of his books is fly fishing, John will appeal to fisherman and non as he writes as much about life.

[Chris Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wider ranging than his earlier books. Superb non-fiction writing. Every book is a delight!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

well written. but not what I was looking for

[Joeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happened on this one at our public library... Loved "Fool Hens" "Getting Lost" & most of all "In the Woods"