Travers Corners

The fictional Montana town of Travers Corners, pop. 317, is a hub of fly fishing and the setting of this charming debut collection of eight stories. Waldie builds his tales around character, creating a small community of homespun folk who are quintessentially American and just a bit eccentric. Jud is a middle-aged boatbuilder and fishing guide, a perfectionist and dawdler with a generous heart and an eye for a prank. Junior runs the only general store and knows a lot about fishing but never catches any fish. Dolores is the town's beauty queen whom everyone has been in love with at least once. Uncle Sal, the Brooklyn transplant, is the bartender at the Tin Cup Bar and Cafe; he's been accepted by the townsfolk even though he's never cast a fly rod. Henry is Jud's best friend, also a fishing guide with deep thoughts and an appreciation of simple pleasures. In ""Word Gets Around,"" gossip spawns rumor that ignites truth and finally makes history in a hilarious fish story about the one that got caught. ""Three Yahoos"" is a nostalgic yarn of teenage innocence, testosterone and the unpredictability of life. ""Travels"" finds that a burned-out musician and a worn-out rancher have a lot in common: both famous in their own worlds, each is envious of the other. Waldie's stories are noteworthy for their simplicity, affection and freshness. (May)