At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman

by John Gierach

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.

Proving that fishing is not just a part-time pursuit, At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman takes us through a year with America’s favorite fishing scribe, John Gierach, who dedicates himself to his passion despite his belief that “In the long run, fishing usually amounts to a lifetime of pratfalls punctuated by rare moments of perfection.”

Beginning with an early spring expedition to barely thawed Wyoming waters and ending with a New Year’s Eve trip to the Frying Pan River in Colorado, Gierach’s travels find him fishing for trout, carp, and grayling; considering the pros and cons of learning fishing from videos (“video fishing seems a little like movie fun to watch, but a long way from the real thing”); pondering the ethics of sharing secret spots; and debunking the myth of the unflappable outdoorsman (“masters of stillness on the outside, festering s***holes of uncertainty just under the surface”).

With an appreciation of the highs, the lows, and all points between, Gierach writes about the fishing life with wisdom, grace, and the well-timed wisecrack. As he says, “The season never does officially end here, but it ends effectively, which means you can fish if you want to and if you can stand it, but you don’t have to.” As any Gierach fan knows, want to and have to are never very far apart.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2003

About the author

John Gierach was an American author and freelance writer who lived in Larimer County, Colorado.

Reviews

[Etienne]

Très beau livre! Un livre de pêche qui mélange anecdotes, connaissances et réflexions sur la pêches, surtout, mais aussi sur la vie. Live unique et singulier qui m'a charmé. Bien écrit également. Belle découverte!

[Henry DeForest]

Great book; very in-line (as I am rapidly learning) with Gierach's typical style. I found this book to have more structure than Standing in a River Waving a Stick, filled with more inter-story continuity, but less thematic thrust than Still Life With Brook Trout. I suppose I should not be surprised that this book was released between the two. Either way, this was a great read with fun bouts of philosophizing and an earnest love of fish.

[Mitch D]

I wouldn’t call him a great philosopher by any means but he’s a great writer, and most people can’t tell the difference between that.

[Jeffrey]

Typical Gierach. Quality writing. Humorous and educational.

Being from the part of Colorado where Gierach mainly honed his craft as a writer and an angler, I get varying reports about the man behind the books. Some good, some bad. I have learned not to judge an angler by his writing ability. There are many cats who write beautifully and can't fish for shit. The reverse also holds true.

I no longer fly fish but I like a good fly fishing book. Gierach is one of the best fly casting authors we have. He was in the tackle shop I frequent (Bennetts in Berthoud) a few months back and I missed him by a day or so. He was buying steel leaders for a musky trip. Apparently he's not as much of a bamboo rod, dry-fly purist as he'd like us to believe. :)

I'd like to talk to the guy so I can form my own opinion of the man instead of relying on second hand information from buddies that have met him and fished with him.

Good read just the same.

[Brian Davis]

The essays in this book do not disappoint. Mr. Geirach has a way of writing that makes you think "I've fished that exact same creek, but in a different state." His observations are universal, and put you in touch with the same feelings and events he is describing.

The essays in this book are woven together, flowing from one to another, which is not the case in all his books. But the essays still work as stand alone pieces.

[Brian Grouhel]

Another awesome book by Mr. Gierach. His essays and reminiscences gives one time to pause and rethink old times and trips and remember why we like to fish!

[John]

Entertaining - personal - relaxing ... all the things you expect from an actual fishing trip!

[Mark]

vintage gierach

[Dave Weller]

In this, the tenth John Gierach collection of essays that I read, the author takes us through a year of fly fishing, and of course I thoroughly enjoyed the literary tour. The Gierach timeline has advanced to include the impact of the internet, and not surprisingly he remains an old school brick and mortar and pen and paper guy. What would you expect from a man who deploys a bamboo rod as a matter of first choice. As an avid fly fisherman of similar age who lives in Colorado, I could closely relate to many of John's experiences and observations. I look forward to the next collection of stories with great enthusiasm.

[Reader]

All of Gierachs books blend in, which is no problem for me because he’s my favorite author and I can read anything he writes. Amazing wisdom as always

[Mary Vogelsong]

RIP John Gierach, who died earlier this month. Great writer, fly fisher.

[Jackson Riegler]

Another great set of accounts along the river bank from gierach

[Tom]

grants run

[Denis Lamy]

Intéressant comme livre, une suite de chroniques un peu décousus. On y aborede la pêche à la mouche, mais surtout ce qui entoure la pêche, la sociologie et la psychologie de la pêche à la mouche.

[Scott]

As good a fishing and life writer and real-life storyteller as there every is. A great example of his work!

[Jason Hastings]

This little 'novel' is unusual in the canon of John Gierach in that it actually has a linked story line spread out over chapters, instead of his usual unlinked essays. But then again, this is only my third installment on the John Gierach plan and the most recent of his that I've read (2003) so it's possible he's been at this fixed style for a while.

The first thing I noticed was that his writing style has changed a little; he's not quite as humorous as the Gierach of Another Lousy Day in Paradise and Dances with Trout but a little more philosophical. The sentences are well crafted and rumble over your tongue, much like the rivers he describes. Slightly inebriated, majorly exhausted and mush-mouthed after spending a few days on our own rivers, my friend and I started the book by reading it aloud while standing around a campfire on a chilly night in the White Mountains of Arizona and had a little trouble mouthing the words in the order Gierach had assembled them. Back home the going was a little easier, but the flow seems a little more complicated to push past the lips than his older books.

I've noticed this same thing with Jim Harrison novels - the older he gets - the more complicated and unruly the sentences get. At any rate - this is still a first rate read. It represents one full calendar year in the life of America's best known (and most read) fly fisherman. The usual cast of characters are present (Mike Clark, A.K. Best, and Ed Engle) but in limited capacity to previous efforts I've read and I found myself missing them a little.

Overall, it's the same old Gierach that I've come to love and rely on; working away at perfecting his art (writing and fishing) while taking you on that old familiar ride through National Forests, prairies, river and tributaries of the Rocky Mountains in search of trout and the meaning of life and friendship. It's nice to know he's still there, still mastering the craft and still putting the words to the page after all these years.

In short, solid but not exceptional - kind of like most days on the river. He's still dependable and solid with the prose, but this isn't his greatest attempt.

[Richard Mendenhall]

I have read every book written by John Gierach. It is not about just fishing it is truly about life. Gierach is a great writer and one of a kind.

[Justin]

A decent one, although he ups the curmudgeon factor a little, especially when dealing with the Internet (which is too cliche a thing for him to be going after).

[Jen]

This book is a collection of fun and clever stories about fly fishing. I was looking for something light, and that's exactly what I got.

[Jared]

Another great one. This followed a whole year of fishing, so it felt much less disconnected and I was able to relate more as I looked back on my first year fishing in Wyoming.

[Mr. Wakiki]

I'm on a fishing kick and John Gierach has been very helpful

[Paul]

Unlike other books of his, this book takes the reader through an entire year of his fishing adventures. Personally one of my favorites.

[Brian Klemme]

Great read. Gierach has a way of capturing fly fishing... I love his books!

[Roooy]

Fly fishers fisherman

First time reading this author, Very enjoyable with practical fishing techniques all mixed with some good yarns. look forward to reading more of his books.