Trout Madness

by Robert Traver

The author recounts his experiences fly fishing, from anticipation of the opening of the season to its last day

Genres: Fiction, Outdoors, Nature, Philosophy

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Robert Traver is the pseudonym of John Donaldson Voelker who served as the Prosecuting Attorney of Marquette County, Michigan and later as the 74th Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. He wrote many books reflecting his two passions, the law and flyfishing, Troubleshooters, Danny and the Boys and Small Town D.A.

Reviews

[David Watterworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were to choose my favorite fishing author of all time, he would have to be my old and dearly-missed friend John Voelker, whose nom de plume was Robert Traver. My all time favorite fishing book has to be "Trout Madness". His wit and love of fly fishing can only be realized by reading his "Testament of a Fisherman". John was a wonderful and giving man...Who was a Hell of a great angler!

[Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent easy read of fly fishing stories by Robert Traver, an attorney who lived in the upper peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan. Reading this books makes me wish I lived in that area where native trout environs are or were so plentiful. Like most serious fly fishermen, Traver's stories are blended with humor, philosophy and a penchant to stretch the truth at times.

[Royal Dun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine loaned me this book (now that I think of it, my enemies don't loan me things), and I set it aside for a while as a winter read. As it turned out, that was the perfect plan.

Trout Madness is a collection of yarns, those unforgettable stories told on the covered porch of a cabin overlooking your favorite stream. Through this collection of yarns, Robert Traver is on the porch, regaling you with tales that are all too familiar, if you've spent any time on a trout stream.

Even though his prose becomes a little "lawyeresque" at times, Traver manages to connect with fellow anglers through the impressions of emotion. That's usually the mark of a good book. As you read his short tales, you will remember your largest fish, or a difficult lie that you conquered, or the angst you felt when a fishing buddy missing longer than expected. You will smile, laugh, tear up, and sometimes shrug your shoulders at Travers' descriptions of your own experiences.

Trout Madness made a good winter read, indeed.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Many of the essays are humorous and self-deprecating. He writes most movingly when describing watching others fish and his appreciation of the skill involved. I felt a sense of connection with the author, who though fishing and writting fifty years ago, experiences the timeless nature of the fobiles and rewards of fishing.

[2sketchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read, especially for those of us afflicted with this particular madness. The writing style is definitely of the time: unhurried, articulate and very dry witted.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I have had Traver's Testament of a Fisherman on my wall for decades; it captures the essence of why I fish, and why I love fishing. The best of these stories are terrific - beautifully evocative of days on a stream with a good friend, sensing everything around you, hoping for a strike, knowing that this is as good as it gets. Traver was certainly a committed, old-fashioned fly fisher (you know, like he ought to have been committed . . .), and his love for the outdoors is palpable in everything he wrote here. Some of the stories didn't grab me, but a few were enough to make me close my eyes and imagine being there.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't fish. I was gifted this book when I worked for Trout Unlimited. And it's taken me 10 years to read the last few chapters. The author wrote "Anatomy of a Murder" based on a real life crime that took place near my hometown in Michigan. This is a series of humorous essays about fishing. Humorous if you don't mind jokes like this: "Women Fishermen: Avoid them. One kind will quietly out-fish you and generally get in your hair while another variety will come down with the vapors and want to go home just when the rise gets under way. Avoid all of them like wood-ticks."

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traver makes you feel like you are fishing alongside him. He describes the landscape of his fishing environs with enough color to imagine the scene, but not so much that your own imagination is stifled. The small cast of Yooper characters sprinkled throughout provide some of the funniest moments (looking at you, Louie Bonetti).

[Zack]

I cannot find this book to read it?
Please assist.
Thank you
Zack

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite on trout fishing.

[Cynthia Bolduc Morissette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un gros 4,5 🔆 j’ai dégusté ce livre par petite bouchée qui étaient toutes excellentes! Jai commencé ce livre a la pêche et ça été une belle immersion! Je suis en amour avec le nature writing !

[Lou Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

fire, i’ll remember some stories more than others too be sure

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published over 40 years ago, this book continues to make you laugh and understand the sport of trout fishing, an activity that seems to rarely evolve decade after decade.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un ensemble de récits plein d’humour (souvent ayant trait à l’autodérision) sur la carrière de pêcheur de l’auteur. De l’ouverture tant attendue jusqu’au jour de la clôture une description de sorties de pêche où l’auteur ne se lasse pas de nous décrire son amour de la pêche à la mouche (supérieure selon lui à la pêche au lancé où à la pêche au vif), son mépris pour les innovations technologique telles que les canne à pêche en fibre de verre, outils industriels qui manquent l’âme et le caractère des cannes à pêches traditionnelles en bambou refendu.

Il y décrit aussi les odyssées improbables que les pêcheurs entreprennent pour trouver le lieu de pêche magique dont ils ont entendu parlé au coin d’un guichet de bar. Et bien entendu le rapport du pêcheur avec la nature, spectateur silencieux et privilégié, mais pas à l’abri d’égarement, comme lorsqu’il introduit des espèces de perche dans les ruisseaux à truite pour constater ensuite la disparition totale de l’espèce locale. Ou encore lorsque son père décide de construire un canal entre son lac stérile et la retenue d’un barrage de castor avant de se rendre compte que le différentiel d’altitude n’est pas en sa faveur.

Un récit qui n’a pas tellement vieilli, sauf sur un point : la nonchalante misogynie de l’auteur. Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir, et restons sur ces lignes de l’auteur, brutes de ses calepins de pêche sur le jour de l’ouverture :

« 1936 : En raquettes jusqu’à Flopper’s Pond avec Clarence Lott. Etant partiellement libre. Zéro activité, zéro poisson, zéro loupé. Deux roues crevées au retour. ‘Vive le vent, vive le vent, vive le vent d’hiver…’
1937 : Même méthode, même site, avec Mike DeFant. Gardé à contrecoeur cinq fretins ridicules, par vile fierté paysanne.
…
1947 : Cinq miles en raquettes avec Dick Tisch jusqu’à Nurmi ‘s Pond. Encore trois pieds de neige dans les bois. Avons été pris dans la froidure piquante d’averses de pluie et de neige mêlées. Frissons et suées au retour. Passé trois jours au lit avec une infirmière. Agaçant mais sympa. Voir à réitérer l’exploit l’an prochain. Elle s’appelait Lulu. »

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true classic for those who like to fly fish for trout. It is even better if you are familiar with the U.P. and the type of characters who would have lived there back in the day. Written in a style using words and phrases which exercise your imagination. And very funny too!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love trout fishing, you will probably love this book. If not, you probably won't. His follow up, "Trout Magic" was also good, but not as good.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a long time. I remember the prose was wonderful and insightful. I read it mostly for the fly fishing experiences.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe this as a book of yarns. Wonderful read. Looking forward to Trout Magic :)