The Optimist: A Case for the Fly Fishing Life

by David Coggins

An “excellent” (The New York Times) modern tribute to an ageless pastime, and a practical guide to the art, philosophy, and rituals of fly fishing, by an expert, lifelong angler.In The Optimist, David Coggins makes a case for the skills and sensibility of an enduring sport and shares the secrets, frustrations, and triumphs of the great tradition of fly fishing, which has captivated anglers worldwide. Written in wry, wise, and keenly observed prose, each chapter focuses on a specific place, fish, and skill. Few individuals, for example, have the visual acuity required to catch the nearly invisible bonefish of the Bahamas flats. Or the patience to land the elusive Atlantic salmon, “the fish of a thousand casts,” in eastern Canada. Pursuing these challenges, Coggins, “a confirmed obsessive,” travels to one fishing paradise after another, including the great rivers of Patagonia, private chalk streams in England, remote ponds in Maine, and New York City’s Jamaica Bay. In each setting, he chronicles his fortunes and misfortunes with honesty and humor while meditating on how fishing teaches focus, inner stillness, and a connection to the natural world. Perfect for the novice, the enthusiastic amateur, and the devoted angler alike, The Optimist offers a practical path to enlightenment while providing “a rueful, thoughtful, and very funny examination of an elegant obsession” (Jay McInerney).

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Outdoors, Sports, Travel, Memoir, Philosophy

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2021

About the author

David Coggins is the author of "The Believer: A Year in the Fly Fishing Life" (Scribner). His previous books include "The Optimist," "Men and Manners" and the NY Times best-seller "Men and Style" (Abrams). He writes The Contender, a newsletter about style, travel and design. His work appears in numerous publications, including Esquire, the Financial Times magazine and Robb Report. He lives in New York.

Reviews

[Susannah Lauber · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is new to fly fishing, this book captured what initially appealed to me. Coggins is a master storyteller who made me feel like I was on the river with him and made me add a whole lot of things to my bucket list.

“But I cast, not knowing what will happen. In the waking life I cast too, and still I never know. If no trout rises, I cast again. I feel a shiver of good fortune to be in the world, a world without end.”

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect Summer read!
Coggins has a pleasant, conversational, and witty style of writing. I was "hooked" from the introduction, leading into the eight chapters of the book, each centered upon his quest fo a different species of fish in a different part of the country and/or world.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t really know anything about fly fishing and I found this book really engaging and interesting! While I don’t think it’s for me I have a better understanding of it now!

[Johnnie]

i just wanna fish for gods sake

[Jason Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. There are chapters on trout, salmon & bonefish. The author tells of great catches & of the ones that got away. Definitely made me want to get out on the water.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I'll start by saying that I generally like Coggins' short-form writing. In a few pages or paragraphs, I find his voice and his outlook enjoyable. But I think in a long-form book, he loses some of his appeal for me. The insights and philosophizing feel a little shallow, and his otherwise genial personality comes off a little pompous. That being said, not a bad read for what it is - a very topical, not-at-all in depth story about liking to fly fish.

[Will Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great nonfiction account of one man's fly fishing experiences from a very young age until the present. Covers a host of regions and variety of fish species and includes his experiences traveling to great destinations. There's a great philosophical thread throughout the book that truly would be good for any new fly fisher to absorb, or at least acknowledge, before beginning the painstaking process of becoming competent at the sport.

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid (maybe rabid) fly fisherman, I was naturally drawn to this book. I could not believe my luck, when reading the first chapter, to find out the author was introduced to fly fishing in Wisconsin, just as I was. He had me hooked (no pun intended) from that point on.
This is a wonderful little book, full of the author's experiences and perceptions as he travels around fishing. From Wisconsin to Patagonia, he aptly describes each location, and it's setting and particular quirks. Besides the obvious draw to Wisconsin, I really enjoyed his trips to Maine for brook trout, and to England for brown trout. He managed to make me feel like I was there, fishing alongside him.
I think that I will keep this book near my favorite chair by the fireplace, and return to it again and again when the cold weather hits and keeps me inside!

[Travis Meserve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm a David Coggins fan and a fly fishing enthusiast. So it would have taken a lot for me not to have enjoyed this. If the author reads these reviews, only thing I would say is that, I see another fly fishing book in your future! Feels like there's still a lot of ground left uncovered. This book was heavy on travel themes which was fun to read. But I would enjoy reading more about some of the intersections of fly fishing and other areas Coggins is expert in (clothing, manners, life well lived, etc.) as well as some of the more typical fishing experiences on home waters. But as for this book, it was a solid enjoyable read. Left me wanting more!

[McClellan Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like a vacation.

No heroics or over philosophising about fly fishing. Just a good book about fly fishing around the world.

Enjoyable writing of wonderful places and the process of casting flies for beautiful fish. Coggin’s doesn’t set fly fishing up as anything more than the recreation that it is. But it is a means of connecting with the natural world and escaping the frenetic pace of modern life, and for that he is grateful. Fishing seems to be a connection to the natural world yes, but also to a history bigger than himself.

Simple. Straightforward. And very enjoyable.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coggins is a masterful storyteller. In this series of tales from around the world he showcases the trial, tribulations, and triumphs of fishing with the fly rod. Every page beautifully describes the adventure of chasing elusive fish and provides self reflection of the fisherman. You don’t have to fish to enjoy the tales.

Heck, this makes me want to fly back into a remote fishing camp and seek my own redemption chasing trout.

[Rick Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Not yet an angler, but a friend is and has recently invited me on a trip.

Read this to get a feel for whether I would enjoy it. If it's half as good as DC describes, I think I'll be hooked.

I loved the way this was written. The technical tips were excellent, and I will refer to them again, but I loved his description of the philosophy, the mindset. His passion comes through so clearly.

[Cole Kaestner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fishing stuff is really good. Great storyteller and I like that he writes just as much about the failures as he does the successes.

He gives me a little bit of a 2013 hipster/steampunk vibe that I’m not a fan of but that’s ok👍🏻

[Meghan O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fly fishing obsessive and lover of life, I 100% appreciate a book that speaks eloquently about what my very being cannot. Beautifully written, honest and just elitist enough you know it's written by a die hard. Love this book and will probably reread multiple times a year on my way to fishing destinations.

[R. N. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love of the sport

Enjoyable and self-deprecating in the vein of writers such as Gierach, though without regularly having to pick the straw out of his teeth.

[Chris Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Coggins fully encompasses the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of a simple fly fisherman, as well as the beauty and meaningful adventures it takes us on. Couldn’t put this book down!

[Anton Hychka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been fishing, and perhaps I never will. But this book painted vivid images of nature’s wonders, awakened my taste buds, and brought me a sense of peace as I read it.

[Joseph M Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spot on

This is one of the purest most honest explanations of fly fishing I’ve encountered. David describes the range of emotions more accurately than anyone I’ve read-well done.

[Michael Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't fished in ages but so well-written it doesn't matter

I was skeptical since I'm not a fisherman but I got carried along by the writing. Great scene-setting and beautiful writing.

[Joseph Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book that covers the joys, and dismay, of the angling life while also giving the reader a wonderful overview of the places that the author has traveled to in order to persue his obsession. Equal parts funny and fascinating.

[Jessica Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a small but growing section of my library devoted to writing about very specific obsessions/sports/activities which interest me not at all but, thanks to the quality of the writing, suddenly seem fascinating. This book falls squarely into that category and can sit happily alongside William Finnegan's Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life , E.B. White's One Man's Meat, and anything by John McPhee or A.J. Liebling. The writing is beautiful, often hilarious and frequently poignant, and evokes a deep sense of place in each section. I can't speak to it from an angler's perspective but my guess is just about anyone will find something to love in this one.

[India · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coggins reflects on several of his fishing trips, offering up both technical knowledge and philosophy about the fishing life. He captures the complicated relationship of any fishing adventure: the anticipation, the patience, the disappointment, the glory, and the community.

And yet, the disappointing aspect of this book for me wasn’t concerning the book itself, but more a reflection of the fly fishing community. Not a single woman was mentioned in this book. You’d think that none of us fished and this was only a stuffy rich white guy’s sport. The next fly fishing book I read will be written by a woman, for sure. This one left me feeling a bit sunken.

[David A. Ladensohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best fishing book in years.

This is the best written fly fishing book I’ve read in years. Coggins has a great sense of humor and beautifully
expresses the thoughts we have in ways we cannot. His self-deprecation and emotional highs and lows are classic descriptions of every angler’s fishing life.

[François Dumaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not crazy about the definitive nature that a five-star rating boxes you in, but I just can't imagine a more engaging, pleasant and witty book about the craziness of fly fishing. Exquisite.

[Troy Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant that this would keep my attention but overwhelmingly impressed! This is going to be a re-read in the future.

[Wallace Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.

The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.

For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...

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[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Optimist allows the reader to live vicariously through the tales of David Coggins epic fly fishing adventures. He toes the line between the meaning of life paralleled with fly fishing. Every time I opened for a read, I wanted to be on the river experiencing the joys and failures that are well known in this life.

Some of my favorite quotes:
Page 105 Patagonia,
When I fish, I forget all that. Patagonia is not what anybody's made, it's what's lasted despite all we've made. This is the natural world at the most direct and I feel lucky to be in a place that's indifferent to me...

Page 162, Canada,
You can set down your platinum card and book a place on a helicopter to a remote lake, or you can hike for hours for free in a national park. To me, the danger of high prices for lodges, guides, camps and the rest is that it distorts the experience...There's no short line from a credit card to catching a fish..."

Page 219 England,
Each cast, each drift, is a possibility

Fly Fishing brings you back to some of the priorities in life. Being in nature. There is certainly more to life, but fly fishing is certainly key.

[Wylder Heard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book from a friend. It wouldn’t be my first choice to pick this one up off the shelf, but glad I read. This is an ode to the sport and charm of the quaint sport of fly fishing. It follows the author around his various adventures/trips/destinations through storytelling of fishing. It includes a bit of tongue in cheek and dry humor at times, which is welcomed. Again, this is an artists appreciation for the sport/story telling of the sport and not a how-to, so it is playful and a surprisingly fun read given the specificity of content; this book is not a “serious” read. If you enjoy reading about destination trips/travel, the outdoors, fishing story books, or can find appreciation in/can admire the beauty of things/that mindset or perspective, this is worth a quick read. I imagine this book lives best in a vacation home or rental home by the beach or mountains and the book is finished by the end of the trip. Can easily pick up/put down given each chapter is a different trout/fish and a location. This book did make me consider a new hobby that I don’t need.

[Trevor Dubinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really a spoiler but I wanted to share my favorite paragraph from the book.

Patagonia, pg. 116

“Anglers want to know if whatever terrible situation that’s been inflicted upon us is our fault. We want to be absolved of responsibility but also to understand the catastrophe. It’s a paradox: We want to learn something without admitting we didn’t know it. Fly fishing isn’t a crossword puzzle - one correct solution doesn’t unlock all the others and make everything fall into place. Sometimes you have to accept not knowing.”

I have been fly fishing since I was 15 and it has been a blessing in my life. The Optimist dives into the real life thoughts and beliefs of a fly fisherman. It’s not like a technical guide where it goes over form and function, it dives deep into what goes through an anglers head when they are wetting a line. Not only do I recommend the book, I think it should be a mandatory read for those who want to get into fly fishing. The book does the sport justice by going from absolute torment to the small victories in fly fishing.

5/5 stars

[Grant Catton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book David Coggins really nails what it means to be a fly-fisherman. Essentially, what it means is being in love with the beauty of a complicated, some would say outdated and needlessly challenging way of catching fish, and all the self-flaggelation and questioning that comes with it.

The book is technical enough to keep a seasoned fly-fisherman entertained but also simple enough that someone with no experience could basically understand what's going on.

Loved his vivid descriptions of fishing in various places around the globe. For example the chapter on fishing an English chalk stream... I almost feel like I've been there now, after reading this book. Same with Atlantic salmon fishing in New Brunswick.

I only wish he had lingered a bit more on some of the philosophy of fishing, but he does tap into that a bit.