GONE FISHIN': Ruminations on Fly Fishing

Longtime fly fishing essayist Tapply shares reflections on fly fishing that range from anecdotes illustrating the sport's appeal to detailed tips for pros. While the book doesn't dazzle with flowery prose, its even tone of understated reverence neatly conveys the author's feelings without much embellishment, recalling the work of beloved nature writer Sigurd F. Olson. Fans of nature writing in general will find plenty to enjoy, but they should know the book also contains its fair share of the sport's technical side, including passages like this: "We used ten-weight fly rods, minimum stick to throw three-hundred-grain sinktip lines and to wrestle those mighty fish. Sturdy disc-drag reels with two hundred yards of backing." Casting those concerns aside, however, readers can focus on Tapply's smart pacing and succinct descriptions. While renowned as a fly fishing writer, Tapply is also the author of the Brady Coyne mystery series, and his deft way with a story line comes across particularly in the collection's delicate title story. The title itself may be trite, but it's a good indicator of the unpretentious nature of the writing within, which makes for a pleasant read—even if readers haven't the slightest idea what a "bushy bivisible" is. (Nov.)