Rivers Always Reach the Sea: Angling Stories

by Monte Burke, David DiBenedetto (foreword)

From the New York Times bestselling author of Saban and Lords of the Flycomes an exquisite collection of angling stories that span the twenty-first century.

The thirty pieces in Rivers Always Reach the Sea—essays, as well as profiles of some of the biggest names in angling, including Lefty Kreh and Andy Mill—take the reader from the rainforests of Chile to the windswept tundra of Russia, from the remote mangrove-choked basins of Florida’s Everglades to the congested littoral zone of New York City, and to many places in between.

The quarry includes trout, Atlantic salmon, tarpon, bonefish and striped bass, but the real quest is for something else entirely. Told in a voice described by the novelist, Carl Hiaasen, as “funny, wistful, and wonderful,” the stories in Rivers Always Reach the Sea keep the focus on the “why” of the sport of fly fishing, and not the “how.”

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Thomas Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Burke’s stories about angling are timeless.

[Caleb Begley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gierach-esque in the short story approach, but unique in that Burkes range covers more than just the fishing trips. Emphasis on the guides, locations, and environment are what really made this book enjoyable.

Additionally, these fly fishing books can become dry with a moaning about the destruction of the environment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s necessary to hear and I will never shy away from reading it, it’s just that Burke incorporated very well. His subtle remarks about conservation were alarming, but also made you feel like we haven’t lost all hope.

Will happily pass this one on to my dad, whose attention span, like mine is keen to the engaging essays. Good one Mr. Monte Burke, I’ll now try out lords of the fly, and maybe try snook fishing.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that motivate you to experience the places written about. This book focuses on a lot of trips the average person can make.

Fly fishing films and publications now have gotten to be “let’s go to some exotic place for tens of thousands of dollars” or take a month off of work (if they even have a job) to go here and fly fish.

This book is about every day experiences from every day anglers who have a passion for the sport. Not to mention, Monte Burke is a very talented writer who engages you in every page with language and details only one who truly loves fly fishing can effectively do.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have had it up to your eyeballs on/in preach and teach it would be best to skip this one. Absolutely DO skip the Foreword.

Some of the tales are very good, some are sufficient. Loving the occupation of fishing does not have to be a strong criteria for reading these escapades.

Burke can write pleasing English very well. But the messages are also extremely pompous, IMHO. Some valiant and dedicated fishermen around me would enjoy most of the accounts. But not at all the incessant politico inclusions.

And they are probably the most observing of wildlife preservation. Irony of our era.

[Bob Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weaves a tight line between fly fishing as Buddhist zen on one hand and Gierach-esque absurdity. Captures the passion and intensity of serious fisherman in a way that also works on a how to level

There is hero worship aspect of these stories that comes from writing about CEOs for Forbes in his day job- the object of his stories is always the smartest, best, most intense.

Still one of my favorite writers about fishing.

[Brendan P McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

lotta boats considering…

This guy really gets it. In a world so rapidly cratering, Monte strains out the cream of locales, locals and legends. It was a enveloping paddle I wish didn’t end

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent composition of stories regarding sportsman, famous and not famous … who share a love for fishing and the outdoors.