Six Fish Limit: Stories From the Far Side of Fly Fishing

by Steve Raymond

“Few angler-authors can match the skill and insight of Steve Raymond. . . . Raymond leads his reader to a refined and refreshed understanding of what the natural world is really all about.”— The New York Times
 
Perhaps the most innovative fly-fishing writer of his generation, Steve Raymond reaches a new level in this collection of five short stories and a novella. Here you’ll learn the fate of the world’s first genetically modified fly fisher, discover the secret behind the amazing success of an isolated little fly shop, and find out what was really going on between the sainted Theodore Gordon and his mysterious young woman fishing companion. You’ll witness the suspenseful trial of the world’s most famous fly fisher, chuckle at the tale of an angler who outwitted the Internal Revenue Service and his own accountant, and laugh out loud at the “real” story behind the first words ever written about fly fishing. And you’ll agree with the words of Arnold Gingrich in his classic work, The Fishing in Print: “Such books, and such authors, are rare, and Raymond is somebody simply not to be missed.”

216 pages, Hardcover

Published March 28, 2023

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've meant to read Steven Raymond for some time and this one was probably the wrong entry point. I had a hard time getting into these stories. They're mostly fine as light works to pass the time with, but they never really resonant. Raymond's a little flip at times and there's a touch of darkness to these stories. The novella that makes up most of the book doesn't warrant the space -- it's a bad legal drama with a bit of silliness and some mean-spiritedness thrown in.

The other stories fare better, largely because they function more like short stories. Fans of Raymond might want to know what he's up to now, but I'd rather have gone with some of his more lauded nonfiction. As a diversion for fans of fishing-based fiction, these stories do the job, but that's all.

[Based on a NetGalley ARC]

[Thomas Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this book 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

This is not what I would consider your typical fly-fishing book were the act of fly-fishing is the main focus or subject. It almost seems it is secondary in these 6 short stories. In my opinion two of six where pretty good stories but even with that the ending of the story based on a fly shop had an ending that fell short. I did enjoy the story of the court battle between the two authors. As pointed out by other reviews there are some dark turns it some stories but noting i would consider to drastic. Pick this up and give it a read and see what you think.

[Randal White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm normally a sucker for a good fishing book. The subject is one of my go-to favorites. However, in this case, I was left a bit disappointed. The stories are okay, they just lacked the power to grab me and make me want more. It just felt a bit disjointed and disordered. It's a shame, because I am aware of the author, and know that he is a very good writer. His other books are much, much better. Maybe this one is a outlier, and in his next book he will be back in the groove.