The Next Valley Over: An Angler's Progress

by Charles Gaines, Terry McDonell (Foreword)

Acclaimed sporting and adventure writer Charles Gaines has spent much of his life on the water, around the world, fishing rod in hand, angling for trout, redfish, salmon, bonefish, bass, marlin, tuna, and practically everything else that swims. Just about any place where there's water to fish and eccentrics to keep him company, Gaines has been.

The Next Valley Over, a collection of his best writing on fishing from his long and storied career, is culled from the pages of Men's Journal, Forbes, and Sports Afield, among other publications, and ultimately is about the heart of the sport. While his stories are lined with the accoutrement of angling--the art of technique, the equipment, the lodges, the fish themselves--they're really about why we love to fish and what it means to our culture. As Thoreau once said: “Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” What “they are after” is what Charles is curious about, and he has devoted the better part of his life and sanity to coming up with answers.

Starting and ending at the majestic Lake Tadpole in St. Clair County, Alabama, where Gaines’s love of fishing was initially sparked, the Next Valley Over chronicles exploits in exotic locations with eccentric characters. In the process of his quest of nearly every species known to man, Gaines explores what we are really searching for when we fish.

Genres: Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Stephen Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful collection of fishing stories! Charles is not only a fantastic writer, he's also a man of shockingly varied talents and interests. These stories make you feel like a co-traveler on his fishing expeditions- expeditions where the company and the menu feature as much as the fish. While this book is not kid-friendly (some wild stories from the 70's) and while I'd probably disagree with Charles about quite a few things, I'd sure love the chance to cast a line with him and listen to his incredible stories.

[john a allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this in a discount book store in a mall, and what a fine it was. I have it 5 stars because it won't let you give 10. If you have ever picked up a fly rod, you owe it to yourself to read this. No spoilers from me, just get the book.

[Danny Hampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Gaines goes beyond the world of just fishing in this collection of autobiographical stories and uses the sport as a catlyst for personal discovery and a look into the human psyche. Gaine's writing style has such a unique voice and tone that he easily takes the reader from one adventure to the next. However, no mattter how great the action of a story is he still manages to make deeper correlations the human experience . "The Next Valley Over" to Gaines' is not just the next fishing spot but the next lesson and higher understanding of life.

[James Windale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone interested in exotic locales in fishing. There's a lot of sentimental reflection of the author's own bonding experiences concerning his father and his children. A fantastic book if you're a fishing aficionado.

[Endira77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly enjoyable, more on each page, sad it had to end.