Nervous water: sometimes it’ s nothing more than a fleeting crease or wrinkle on the surface of a lake or stream, or a small patch of salt water that looks as if it’ s shivering. But wise anglers know that such subtle surface movements are nearly always signs of fish stirring down below.
The sport of fly fishing is like that. It has a reputation as a tranquil, contemplative sport, but something is nearly always going on down below: constant currents of new thought and theory, a relentless drive to develop new technologies, an ongoing muted chorus of debate.
Esteemed fly fisher and author Steve Raymond has contemplated these issues and presented them in articles and essays published in many magazines. Now, for the first time, many of these works have been collected in a single book— thirty-four variations on the theme of fly fishing. Together they form a selective, opinionated chronicle of the trends, developments, and changes in fly fishing from the 1960s to the present, along with a look back at some pioneers of the sport— and the fish that make it all possible. Most of these pieces have been updated, expanded, or otherwise revised or edited for publication in this book; several appear here for the first time. Some tackle important topics— such as the very definition of fly fishing itself— and others take a light look at the more trivial angling concerns— such as how, or even whether, to dress for fishing.
A thoughtful, engaging contemplation of this complex sport, Nervous Water belongs on the shelf of anyone who loves fly fishing.
Nervous water: sometimes it’ s nothing more than a fleeting crease or wrinkle on the surface of a lake or stream, or a small patch of salt water that looks as if it’ s shivering. But wise anglers know that such subtle surface movements are nearly always signs of fish stirring down below.
The sport of fly fishing is like that. It has a reputation as a tranquil, contemplative sport, but something is nearly always going on down below: constant currents of new thought and theory, a relentless drive to develop new technologies, an ongoing muted chorus of debate.
Esteemed fly fisher and author Steve Raymond has contemplated these issues and presented them in articles and essays published in many magazines. Now, for the first time, many of these works have been collected in a single book— thirty-four variations on the theme of fly fishing. Together they form a selective, opinionated chronicle of the trends, developments, and changes in fly fishing from the 1960s to the present, along with a look back at some pioneers of the sport— and the fish that make it all possible. Most of these pieces have been updated, expanded, or otherwise revised or edited for publication in this book; several appear here for the first time. Some tackle important topics— such as the very definition of fly fishing itself— and others take a light look at the more trivial angling concerns— such as how, or even whether, to dress for fishing.
A thoughtful, engaging contemplation of this complex sport, Nervous Water belongs on the shelf of anyone who loves fly fishing.
STEVE RAYMOND is the author of five books on fly fishing. He has written for Sports Illustrated, Fly Fisherman, and Flyfishing,
Few angler-authors can match the skill and insight of Steve Raymond
. . ."--"The New York Times" "Reading Steve Raymond's "Nervous
Water" is much like sitting around a campfire with a good scotch, a
fine cigar, and listening to your best friend. The tales and rants
are a look into the soul of a man who loves the marvels of
nature."--A. K. Best "Steve Raymond has been one of fly fishing's
finest writers longer than most of us have been fishing. "Nervous
Water" is a splendid and vastly entertaining celebration of all the
big and little things that make fly fishing such a compelling way
of life."
--Paul Schullery, author of "Royal Coachman" and "American Fly
Fishing: A History"""
..".contrasts the tranquil surface of the sport with the trends,
debates and issues that roil the waters."--"Seattle
Post-Intelligencer
"
"The entertaining stories are a snapshot of Raymond's life and
reveal engaging insights in the complex sport..."--"Northwest
Adventures"
..".adds a bit more glitter to the bright thread of fly-fishing
gold that runs through the fabric of American sporting literature.
Raymond has for several decades made important contributions to the
literature of fly fishing. In his collection of loosely connected
essays we see him at his intriguing best. There's something for all
tastes-easygoing appreciation of the sport's quirks, heartwarming
reminiscence, and just simple tales wonderfully told. This is
vintage Raymond, and for those who know his work, that means a
literary wine to sample and savor."--"Fly Rod & Reel""" "Here
you'll find 34 essays ranging from outright comedy through some
fascinating historical research, from a wry commentary on the
burgeoning technologies of the fly-fishing industries and the cult
of celebrity to some just plain, excellent fishing stories."
--"Flyfishing and Tying Journal""" "Raymond's prose is direct, his
commentary forthright, frankly opinionated, frequently funny and
not without cutting edges.".."""-- Fly Rod & Reel""
Praise for Steve Raymond's "Blue Upright"
With "Blue Upright", Steve Raymond proves once again why he is the
Raymond Carver of fly-fish lit. With elegant, unadorned precision,
Steve offers the biographies of his favorite flies, which blossom
into an autobiography of Steve Raymond and a history of fly-fishing
for salmon, trout and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, with side
trips after bonefish and Atlantic salmon. It is complex wisdom
simply presented, and belongs on any literate fly-fishers
bookshelf.--James R. Babb, Editor, "Gray's Sporting Journal"
Raymond's storytelling and writing skills enable him to seamlessly
work these varied topics into cohesive chapters that both inform
and amuse. And no matter where Raymond's thoughts take him, he's
always able to convey how each of these tiny fishing flies has
affected his life in a big way."--"Publishers Weekly"
"Insightful, informative, and always interesting, this book could
be a fitting capstone for the author's literary career . . . "--"
Library Journal"
Praise for Steve Raymond's "Blue Upright"
With "Blue Upright," Steve Raymond proves once again why he is the
Raymond Carver of fly-fish lit. With elegant, unadorned precision,
Steve offers the biographies of his favorite flies, which blossom
into an autobiography of Steve Raymond and a history of fly-fishing
for salmon, trout and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, with side
trips after bonefish and Atlantic salmon. It is complex wisdom
simply presented, and belongs on any literate fly-fishers
bookshelf.--James R. Babb, Editor, "Gray's Sporting Journal"
Raymond's storytelling and writing skills enable him to seamlessly
work these varied topics into cohesive chapters that both inform
and amuse. And no matter where Raymond's thoughts take him, he's
always able to convey how each of these tiny fishing flies has
affected his life in a big way."--"Publishers Weekly"
"Insightful, informative, and always interesting, this book could
be a fitting capstone for the author'
Praise for Steve Raymond's "Blue Upright":
With "Blue Upright," Steve Raymond proves once again why he is the
Raymond Carver of fly-fish lit. With elegant, unadorned precision,
Steve offers the biographies of his favorite flies, which blossom
into an autobiography of Steve Raymond and a history of fly-fishing
for salmon, trout and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, with side
trips after bonefish and Atlantic salmon. It is complex wisdom
simply presented, and belongs on any literate fly-fishers
bookshelf.--James R. Babb, Editor, "Gray's Sporting Journal"
Raymond's storytelling and writing skills enable him to seamlessly
work these varied topics into cohesive chapters that both inform
and amuse. And no matter where Raymond's thoughts take him, he's
always able to convey how each of these tiny fishing flies has
affected his life in a big way."--"Publishers Weekly"
"Insightful, informative, and always interesting, this book could
be a fitting capstone for the author's literary career . . . "--"
Library Journal"
Praise for Steve Raymond's "Blue Upright:
With "Blue Upright, Steve Raymond proves once again why he is the
Raymond Carver of fly-fish lit. With elegant, unadorned precision,
Steve offers the biographies of his favorite flies, which blossom
into an autobiography of Steve Raymond and a history of fly-fishing
for salmon, trout and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, with side
trips after bonefish and Atlantic salmon. It is complex wisdom
simply presented, and belongs on any literate fly-fishers
bookshelf.--James R. Babb, Editor, "Gray's Sporting Journal
Raymond's storytelling and writing skills enable him to seamlessly
work these varied topics into cohesive chapters that both inform
and amuse. And no matter where Raymond's thoughts take him, he's
always able to convey how each of these tiny fishing flies has
affected his life in a big way."--"Publishers Weekly
"Insightful, informative, and always interesting, this book could
be a fitting capstone for the author's literary career . . . "--"
Library Journal
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