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Illuminated by Water: Fly Fishing and the Allure of the Natural World
In its blending of nature writing and memoir—also touching on the connection of time, beauty, and memory— Illuminated by Water is an elegiac tribute to fly fishing and the natural world.
Illuminated by Water is a book about the author’s own decades-long passion for fly fishing and how it has shaped the way he sees and thinks about the natural world. That passion is shared and made legible here, not just for other anglers, but for those who have never yet cast a line in the water. Why is it that catching fish—or even thinking about catching fish—can be so thrilling, so captivating? Why is it that time spent beside water can be imprinted so sharply in the memory? Why is it that what seems a simple act of casting a line and hoping can feel so rich in mystery?
Alternating between regional and thematic chapters, Tallack considers ‘wildness’, its pursuit, and its meanings; the compulsive appeal of tying flies; the ethics of catching and killing; the allure of big fish; and beauty—where it’s sought and where it’s found. He describes fly fishing trips to America, Canada, Shetland, and England. Throughout the book, certain themes recur—environmental harm and healing; the relationship between fishing and time; hope and its manifestations; and the ways in which angling can deepen engagement with the natural world.
Illuminated by Water is a book about the author’s own decades-long passion for fly fishing and how it has shaped the way he sees and thinks about the natural world. That passion is shared and made legible here, not just for other anglers, but for those who have never yet cast a line in the water. Why is it that catching fish—or even thinking about catching fish—can be so thrilling, so captivating? Why is it that time spent beside water can be imprinted so sharply in the memory? Why is it that what seems a simple act of casting a line and hoping can feel so rich in mystery?
Alternating between regional and thematic chapters, Tallack considers ‘wildness’, its pursuit, and its meanings; the compulsive appeal of tying flies; the ethics of catching and killing; the allure of big fish; and beauty—where it’s sought and where it’s found. He describes fly fishing trips to America, Canada, Shetland, and England. Throughout the book, certain themes recur—environmental harm and healing; the relationship between fishing and time; hope and its manifestations; and the ways in which angling can deepen engagement with the natural world.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published August 2, 2022
14 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Malachy Tallack
12 books120 followersMalachy Tallack has written three works of non-fiction – Sixty Degrees North, The Un-Discovered Islands and Illuminated by Water – and two novels, The Valley at the Centre of the World and That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz. He won a New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust in 2014, and the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship in 2015. As a singer-songwriter he has released five albums and an EP, and performed in venues across the UK. He is from Shetland, and currently lives in Fife.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 3, 2023
This is a mixture of the authors experience of fishing and the reflection and books on fishing. Interesting in parts
January 22, 2025
I finished the book, had tea, then went fishing which is a really good sign. Loved it. It's been awhile since I enjoyed a nice beautifully written philosophical descriptive fishing book like this. I was completely won over when he referenced Negley Farson's Going Fishing which was such a huge part of my own fishing literature journey. What was new was his very deep dive into that minefield of is it ethically right to catch fish then let them go for your entertainment? He debates and argues this with finesse and sensitivity. Superb summary. I won't spoil how he approaches it, but - I went fishing!
March 28, 2024
Worthy and well written contribution to the long history of literature on why on earth people go fishing. Funny at times, which most fishing books definitely aren't.
May 12, 2023
It has been a very long time since I fished. I dabbled in it as a young lad and then it kind of fizzled out, probably because there were very few of my close friends doing it as well. I had other things that I would rather do, so the small amount of gear that I has was passed on to someone who would get more use out of it.
Malachy Tallack was one of those who started fishing young and for him and his brother it was a hobby that hooked them both and they are both still passionate about it. He grew up in Shetland and whilst there are almost no rivers there, there were countless lochs. They would go in search of the best of them to catch trout. It was while fishing that he discovered a love of the outdoors and a passion for nature.
He hadn’t fished for a while though and when the pandemic began, it made him think about fishing once again, there hadn’t been much good news in the world at that point and he was feeling down. It made him think about fishing, so he ordered a fly kit and began tying flies again with the intention of finding that delight once again.
This is partly a memoir of rivers and lakes fished over his lifetime as well as some insights into why he gets so much pleasure from fishing. He looks at the hobby from a cultural perspective too, asking why so few women fish in the UK compared to the US and Canada and what can be done to bring in ethnic minorities and make it a less white male-dominated hobby. He also gives us his take on why he thinks it isn’t a cruel sport, especially with modern equipment.
I thought this was a good take on the philosophy of fishing. The prose can be lyrical at times and for other parts of the book, where he is expanding on particular aspects of animal welfare, he is clear and concise in his arguments. He is very clear in his stance on the right for humans to fish for pleasure but also acknowledges that we all need to do more for the world to ensure that all animals can live in a clean environment. Worth reading if you want a non-technical book on fishing. 3.5 stars
Malachy Tallack was one of those who started fishing young and for him and his brother it was a hobby that hooked them both and they are both still passionate about it. He grew up in Shetland and whilst there are almost no rivers there, there were countless lochs. They would go in search of the best of them to catch trout. It was while fishing that he discovered a love of the outdoors and a passion for nature.
He hadn’t fished for a while though and when the pandemic began, it made him think about fishing once again, there hadn’t been much good news in the world at that point and he was feeling down. It made him think about fishing, so he ordered a fly kit and began tying flies again with the intention of finding that delight once again.
This is partly a memoir of rivers and lakes fished over his lifetime as well as some insights into why he gets so much pleasure from fishing. He looks at the hobby from a cultural perspective too, asking why so few women fish in the UK compared to the US and Canada and what can be done to bring in ethnic minorities and make it a less white male-dominated hobby. He also gives us his take on why he thinks it isn’t a cruel sport, especially with modern equipment.
I thought this was a good take on the philosophy of fishing. The prose can be lyrical at times and for other parts of the book, where he is expanding on particular aspects of animal welfare, he is clear and concise in his arguments. He is very clear in his stance on the right for humans to fish for pleasure but also acknowledges that we all need to do more for the world to ensure that all animals can live in a clean environment. Worth reading if you want a non-technical book on fishing. 3.5 stars
August 12, 2022
Pour être honnête, je ne suis pas le public cible de ce livre. Cependant, je suis la cible de l'écriture de Malachy Tallack. Cette manière de décortiquer la nature, la pêche, l'acte dans l'oeil humain. Tout se croise toujours avec lui. J'ai écouté l'audiobook, lu par l'auteur, une précieux expérience. Je recommande aux amoureux de pêche, nature, et les petits liens entre les deux.
December 22, 2022
I needed a book about fish for a nature reading challenge I was completing and my Father has always spent most of his free time fishing so when I saw this book it interested me straightaway.
Tallack's writing style is lovely and he describes passionately the hobby, land & scenes and discusses issues such as climate change. I found the range of expeditions interesting, the different waters he visited from canals to lochs & lakes.
I can more understand now the lure the lakes have on many people including my Father.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this arc in return for a honest review.
Tallack's writing style is lovely and he describes passionately the hobby, land & scenes and discusses issues such as climate change. I found the range of expeditions interesting, the different waters he visited from canals to lochs & lakes.
I can more understand now the lure the lakes have on many people including my Father.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this arc in return for a honest review.
March 25, 2024
This book is for anyone who has touched a rod, lingered at a stream wondering what is below, or thought of fish when their mind should have probably been elsewhere. Tallack meditates on the thoughts that every angler has had, reminding us of the beauty and importance of fishing, of waterways, of the natural world. The second to last chapter of this book brought tears to my eyes as Tallack confronts the undeniable degradation of the world's fisheries. I did not think I could love the piscine world any more than I did already, but it turns out I can- will be recommending this to all the anglers in my life.
July 14, 2024
Again my favourite kind of nonfic - nature writing (perhaps adjacent) with a deeply personal connection. This beautifully written book smoothly moves between anecdotes, reflections, philosophical debates, and ecological history. I felt the anticipation of every trip that Tallack described, and the subsequent joy or disappointment, which I think is a real testament to his prose.
Surprisingly really liked Chino Yoshio for the final chapter - and then listened to Tallack's own music!
Surprisingly really liked Chino Yoshio for the final chapter - and then listened to Tallack's own music!
May 10, 2025
Never fished in my life, likely never will but I enjoy reading about other people’s experiences and so I often pick up nonfiction on topics which are alien to me.
Illuminated by Water was lovely to read and very interesting. I now know 100% more about fly fishing than I did when I started, as well as enjoyed Tallack’s essays about the history of the sport, discrimination and class division in fishing, the threat the UK’s rivers are under, and the wide reaching impact of decreasing fish populations on global ecological systems due to climate change.
There is also just some gorgeous nature writing that transports you to lochs in the Shetlands, the River Clyde, the River Don, the River Devon, and countless unnamed lochs, streams and canals. It’s a book anyone would enjoy - no prerequisite interest in fishing required!
Illuminated by Water was lovely to read and very interesting. I now know 100% more about fly fishing than I did when I started, as well as enjoyed Tallack’s essays about the history of the sport, discrimination and class division in fishing, the threat the UK’s rivers are under, and the wide reaching impact of decreasing fish populations on global ecological systems due to climate change.
There is also just some gorgeous nature writing that transports you to lochs in the Shetlands, the River Clyde, the River Don, the River Devon, and countless unnamed lochs, streams and canals. It’s a book anyone would enjoy - no prerequisite interest in fishing required!
October 16, 2022
I am NOT an outdoor person, not in the slightest. Not into fishing, never intend to fish. So I don't quite know why I picked up this book, other than having a vague thought that maybe it would provide some insight into the zen of fishing that those who are into it may possess. And I'll say that even for folks who are not interested in the outdoors or in fishing - this is a lovely work to spend some time with. Gorgeous prose, descriptions of places and experiences that I have no interest in personally experiencing but love having a glimpse of. And towards the end, I did find what I was looking for - a philosophical description of the experience that makes so much sense and is so relatable for me. Bonus points for the football (soccer) analogy thrown into the mix in the writing.
October 22, 2022
I have no interest in fishing at all but I came across Tallack's writing in a nature writing anthology and loved his style. It is beautifully written and found myself very interested in what he has to say about fishing tho I still won't ever do it myself. He speaks intelligently and passionately about the wider issues around climate change and where that fits with his hobby. I will definitely be looking out his other books.
May 8, 2023
This is one of those books that picked me as opposed to me picking it. A very enjoyable tale about fishing, waterways and reconnecting. It chronicles many fishing adventures in many different locations across the UK and wider afield, even going as far as my home nation, New Zealand. The book grew on me as a type of nostalgic journey, even though I was never that good of a river fisherman anyway. Highly recommend.
March 18, 2025
I hoped to enjoy this though I’m not an angler. My grandfather was, and always got a lot out of it. Really good this, a series of essays rather than a memoir. Reflection on fishing, the environment, and nature - the natural world and human nature.
June 4, 2025
A surprisingly deep and thoughtful look at fishing, nature and the love of water.
It goes back and forth between little essays on the history and ethics of fishing and personal experiences from the author.
The titular essay, the first one of the collection, it was definitely my favorite.
It goes back and forth between little essays on the history and ethics of fishing and personal experiences from the author.
The titular essay, the first one of the collection, it was definitely my favorite.
August 20, 2023
3.5⭐️⭐️
October 14, 2024
Nature writing at its finest
December 17, 2024
Nice account of fly fishing in the UK.
March 8, 2024
Now I’ll start by saying I’m no angler, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever touched a fishing rod. I went to my local bookshop to pick up something specific, but somehow along the way this caught my eye and Tallack’s book came home with me instead. And I’m so glad it did.
Not just a collection of anecdotal fishing trips drawn from the depths of his memory but a real investigation on what this hobby means to Tallack and what it has provided him. His ability to communicate the expectation, tension, solace and sometimes frustration of this hobby is excellent.
What surprised me was the additional exploration of topics on the periphery of fishing. Issues of fish stocks, transportation and introduction of non-native species, chalk stream pollution, climate change and the moral and ethical arguments of the perceived cruelty of fishing.
A really interesting and wholesome read.
Tallack does for fishing what Murakami did for running.
Not just a collection of anecdotal fishing trips drawn from the depths of his memory but a real investigation on what this hobby means to Tallack and what it has provided him. His ability to communicate the expectation, tension, solace and sometimes frustration of this hobby is excellent.
What surprised me was the additional exploration of topics on the periphery of fishing. Issues of fish stocks, transportation and introduction of non-native species, chalk stream pollution, climate change and the moral and ethical arguments of the perceived cruelty of fishing.
A really interesting and wholesome read.
Tallack does for fishing what Murakami did for running.
December 16, 2023
4.25/5 ⭐
Part nature writing, part memoir and travelogue, Tallack discusses his lifelong love of fly fishing and the places it has taken him. His writing is so descriptive and really immerses you in the settings. Did I come out of this with an urge to take up angling? No. But the audiobook reminded me a lot of those podcasts that are designed to put you to sleep: someone telling a story that's meant to be relaxing, and not necessarily intended to spark a deeper interest. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for a good nature memoir, and definitely to anyone with an interest in fishing.
Part nature writing, part memoir and travelogue, Tallack discusses his lifelong love of fly fishing and the places it has taken him. His writing is so descriptive and really immerses you in the settings. Did I come out of this with an urge to take up angling? No. But the audiobook reminded me a lot of those podcasts that are designed to put you to sleep: someone telling a story that's meant to be relaxing, and not necessarily intended to spark a deeper interest. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for a good nature memoir, and definitely to anyone with an interest in fishing.
December 23, 2023
Beautifully evocative of all that it means to be an angler. Plenty of incredible imagery. Thought provoking as well. In particular I really enjoyed the chapter about The Secret Loch, having caught my first wild trout at such an unknown / secret location with a friend. Very much enjoyed.
January 3, 2023
I loved this. And my interest in fishing is negligible. So reflective and gentle. Beautiful thoughtful writing.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews