We’re big fans of great books, particularly great fishing books, and despite the frenetic pace of the fall fishing season here in Montana and in Yellowstone’s back yard, I’ve been pulling a book or two off the shelf trying to find specific chapters pertaining to this or that the past few weeks.

One of those immensely memorable chapters I was hunting for a few days ago is in one of John Gierach’s books - Sex, Death, and Fly Fishing.  John is in my mind one of the most incredible modern fly fishing authors - earthy, a truly skilled fisherman, a bit antisocial radical, and most importantly a keen observor of life around him - both on and off the water. 

As I have progressed through my fly fishing life I’ve morphed into a fisherman a bit like John - I don’t need the trophy fish to make me happy (though I still fish some of those waters), I spend a lot of time looking at birds, flowers, and the mountains while I’m out on the water, and I’m just as happy catching fiesty, native, wild cutts on some of the smaller waters around here as I am fishing for the big bruisers.  I also appreciate a good bargain, still tie most of my own flies, make my lunch and dinner to take on the river, and drive a 24 year old vehicle (my old red Jeep “Billy Girl”) - traits that I guess are nothing to brag about but speak to the “old timers” self reliance common to those who have lived in the West.  I didn’t intentionally seek to model myself after Gierach - things just sort of worked out that way.  Gierach also has an interesting tendency to wander - sorry - I’ve just done that too….. 

His description of the fall change of seasons - in Chapter 18 (titled appropriately “Autumn”) of Sex, Death, and Fly Fishing is the best I’ve ever seen or read anywhere.   He makes the sometimes subtle changes that occur during the fall transition come to life, and it seems like you’re standing there in the water watching it transpire.

If you’ve already put your gear away for the season (unimaginable, but it could happen I guess) don’t bother reading it - you’ll be dragging everything back out and hastily planning a trip. 

If you’re still fishing, as you should be, grab your copy of this fine book off the shelf and read “Autumn” again - it will make your next trip out even better.  If you’ve not bought this book - do it now and read it while the leaves are golden, the water’s clear, and the BWOs are rolling - you’ll see and enjoy even more next time you’re on the water. 

You can read the rest of the book in a few weeks when winter’s knocking on the door…..

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