If you’re looking for a good fly fishing book, look no further. The list below are available for purchase or possibly at your local library. If you buy using the affiliate links below the proceeds will go to this blog’s selected not for profit organizations.
- The Believer by David Coggins. The most enjoyable book on fly fishing I’ve ever read. Just published this past spring. A breeze to read, superb writing. Can’t recommend highly enough. I identified with many of the author’s sentiments and experiences. James Joiner wrote a review for Hatch magazine if you need more convincing.
- Fly Fishing Maine: Local Experts on the State’s Best Waters by Bob Mallard. Released in 2022. A great guide and general fishing information book. A solid choice for reading in the off-season to plan that next trip, whether it’s your first time or you’re a repeat visitor. I love fishing Maine and spending time outdoors there and there are plenty of places in this book I’ve never been but hope to some day.
- The Unreasonable Virtue of Fly Fishing by Mark Kurlansky. I just started reading this after finding it in a small bookstore on Cape Cod. I’ve been sleeping on this one! I’ll chalk it up to not paying close enough attention to fly fishing magazines or not having enough subscriptions to them because I feel like there must have been reviews or blurbs about this book somewhere. Published back in 2021. Mark Kurlansky is a big deal, well-known, and a best-selling author. Turns out he’s also just another obsessed fly angler too! I’m 68 pages in and can’t put this book down. If you’ve read Kurlansky’s other books on salmon, bugs, salt, cod, paper, milk, or frozen vegetables, this should be your next selection.
- Casting Homeward: An Angler and Naturalist’s Journey to America’s Legendary Rivers by Steve Ramirez. I’ll admit that I haven’t read this one, but Steve Ramirez is one of the voices of our fly fishing generation. He writes for Fly Fisherman magazine and some of his quotes snuck into the narrative feature “Mending the Line (2022).”
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Cast, Catch, Release: Finding Serenity and Purpose through Fly Fishing by Marina Gibson. Special mention for this one because it has a female author! Another 2024 publication that I need to read, and great to see more woman authors.
Some other recent releases that I haven’t read but are on the list!
- River Songs: Moments of Wild Wonder in Fly Fishing by Steve Duda, released in 2024.
- Illuminated by Water: Fly Fishing and the Allure of the Natural World by Malachi Tallack, released in 2022.
- Finally, anything by John Gierach. The legend John Gierach passed away a couple weeks ago, and he will be missed. Rest in peace John. You were one of a kind, and I’ll miss reading your articles but will continue reading your books. One of John’s recent releases is All the Time in the World.
Let me know what I’ve missed! There’s a lot of good stuff out there.
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Certainly want to pick up the new Ramirez book. Always a sucker for a bit of narrative natural history.
Hello, I’m an author and have just released two wonderful books about fly-fishing and would like to see if I can get them in your blog.
1. The Religion of Fly-Fishing”
The Religion of Fly-Fishing” is a captivating and insightful exploration of the sport of fly-fishing through a lens of spirituality and reverence. Author and avid angler Randall Scott Porter masterfully weaves together his love for the serene art of fly-fishing with a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the meditative, almost sacred experience it can provide. Each page of this wonderful read is imbued with Porter’s infectious enthusiasm and poetic descriptions that paint vivid pictures, inviting the reader to join him on the river’s edge. Whether he’s recounting the zen-like focus required to perfectly cast a delicate fly, the thrill of watching a rising trout gently sip it from the surface, or the calming solitude found while wading through a secluded stream, Porter’s words emanate a sense of wonder and spiritual fulfillment that fly-fishing can evoke. The reader is left with an enhanced understanding of how this seemingly simple outdoor pursuit can become a kind of religion unto itself, complete with its own rituals, reverence for the natural world, and devout adherents who find a kind of enlightenment through their connection to the sport. Infused with humor, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for the subtle beauty of fly-fishing, this book is a true delight that is sure to leave a smile on the face of any reader, whether they are a seasoned angler or someone discovering the joys of the sport for the first time.
2. One Last Cast
Four lifelong friends, now in their golden years at 72 years old, embark on one final fly-fishing adventure together – a nostalgic trip down memory lane filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a healthy dose of mischief. These high school buddies, whose bond has only strengthened over the course of seven decades, decide to reunite for “one last hurrah” on the river, determined to recapture the youthful exuberance and uproarious good times of their halcyon adolescent days. As they arrive at their familiar fishing spot, the years melt away and the men are instantly transformed back into the rambunctious teenagers they once were, joking and razzing each other mercilessly, their lively banter peppered with inside jokes and shared experiences. Whether it’s clumsy attempts at casting, hilarious flies-in-the-face mishaps, or for the more experienced anglers, playful taunts and gentle mockery of each other’s fishing prowess, every moment is a knee-slapping, side-splitting delight. And when they finally settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the river and the simple pleasure of the catch, poignant reflections on the lives they’ve lived and the enduring power of their friendship bring them to the edge of tears – but always followed by renewed peals of laughter that resonate across the water. It’s a riotous, poignant, and unforgettably joyful final chapter for these four lifelong pals.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll end with a smile on your face.
They are both hardcover, looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks,
Randall Scott Porter
Hi Randall. I’ll go ahead and send you an email. Thanks, Dave