I don't know how many fly-fishermen have ever read this wonderful book. I also wonder how many modern fly-fishermen would desire to read it. Do many of today's young fly-fishermen care about fly-fishing's past? Do they even read books, or do they prefer to get all/most of their information online? I do not mean this sarcastically; I just wonder if they are interested in reading about fly-fishing in an earlier era. The book includes information from about 1890 until Gordon's death in 1915.
The book tells of Gordon's interest in the development of dry-fly fishing especially. In his notes and letters, he writes of getting a lot of inspiration from English fly-fishermen, especially crediting Frederick Halford, though he notes that Halford became a little too stiff about it in his later writings. Though Gordon is often revered as the first enthusiastic dry-fly fisherman in America, he credited earlier Americans with interest in dry-fly fishing as early as the 1860s.
Gordon accepted the brown trout early on, praising it because of its ability to thrive in warmer water than brook trout tolerate and because it grew to large sizes. Also, it rose for dry flies readily.
He was on a constant quest for fly-tying materials, since he did not have the vast array of materials that are available today. He often shared these materials with others.
Interestingly, he corresponded regularly with GEM Skues, who was a proponent of nymph fishing at a time when Halford and others were intolerant of methods of fishing other than dry-fly fishing. Gordon was an enthusiastic proponent of all methods of fly-fishing, though he greatly preferred dry-fly fishing.
Gordon's writing style is wonderful. He writes concisely and clearly, not trying to impress anyone with sesquipedalian terms (big words).
There is some repetition in the 565-word book, of course, since it is a collection of articles he wrote for magazines and letters he wrote to Guy Jenkins, Skues, and Roy Steenrod. John McDonald's collecting and arranging of these is quite a feat in itself. Amazing in fact.
I would urge anyone with an interest in the history of fly-fishing to seek this book and read it. I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1-5; it is really that good and important. I am not exaggerating. I am glad that I finally got around to re-reading it.
I imagine it will be difficult to find, since it was privately printed in only a couple of editions. But, if you can find a copy, you are interested in fly-fishing's past, and you like to read, you will not be disappointed.
The book tells of Gordon's interest in the development of dry-fly fishing especially. In his notes and letters, he writes of getting a lot of inspiration from English fly-fishermen, especially crediting Frederick Halford, though he notes that Halford became a little too stiff about it in his later writings. Though Gordon is often revered as the first enthusiastic dry-fly fisherman in America, he credited earlier Americans with interest in dry-fly fishing as early as the 1860s.
Gordon accepted the brown trout early on, praising it because of its ability to thrive in warmer water than brook trout tolerate and because it grew to large sizes. Also, it rose for dry flies readily.
He was on a constant quest for fly-tying materials, since he did not have the vast array of materials that are available today. He often shared these materials with others.
Interestingly, he corresponded regularly with GEM Skues, who was a proponent of nymph fishing at a time when Halford and others were intolerant of methods of fishing other than dry-fly fishing. Gordon was an enthusiastic proponent of all methods of fly-fishing, though he greatly preferred dry-fly fishing.
Gordon's writing style is wonderful. He writes concisely and clearly, not trying to impress anyone with sesquipedalian terms (big words).
There is some repetition in the 565-word book, of course, since it is a collection of articles he wrote for magazines and letters he wrote to Guy Jenkins, Skues, and Roy Steenrod. John McDonald's collecting and arranging of these is quite a feat in itself. Amazing in fact.
I would urge anyone with an interest in the history of fly-fishing to seek this book and read it. I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1-5; it is really that good and important. I am not exaggerating. I am glad that I finally got around to re-reading it.
I imagine it will be difficult to find, since it was privately printed in only a couple of editions. But, if you can find a copy, you are interested in fly-fishing's past, and you like to read, you will not be disappointed.
