5 Books Fly Fishers Should Read

The existing literature about fish is as plentiful as their numbers in the sea, and much of it has been dominated by fly fishing. 

While it may seem like a niche hobby, only taking up a minimal portion of the fishing world, it has inspired writers and tickled their creative muse. 

The flowing of such creative juices eventually gave birth to an exquisite selection of literature on fly fishing. A quick online search would show you that fly fishing has taken center stage in a lot of fishing books.

So, if you are both an angler and a bibliophile or someone who wants to dip your toes into the world of reading and would like to start in familiar territory, you have come to the right place. Check out the must-read fly fishing books we gathered just for you.

1. The River Why by David James Duncan

During the wee hours of the morning, when sleep seemed intent to avoid you, have you ever experienced the strong desire to drop all that you have ever known, move to a different place, buy a cabin, and just fish all day? Spend your time in the waters waiting for a fish as the rest of the world went on behind you? If your answer is yes, James Duncan's “The River Why” will hit so close to home for you.

This classic fly fishing novel, published in 1983, follows the story of Gus Orviston, a young man who decided to leave his family behind to find his path. He pursued his true passion, fly fishing, and embarked on his remarkable journey to self-discovery. Taking refuge in a remote cabin by a riverbank, he merely expected the usual fishing adventure. Still, his pursuit of the elusive steelhead of the Pacific Northwest led him into moments of serious introspection. What started as a physical endeavor became a spiritual one. He related the alarmingly rapid degradation of nature to his own desolate life, realizing the inherent connection between humanity and the world.

Readers will feel the need to strip their defenses down and allow vulnerability to take over in their pursuit of personal growth related to Gus Orviston's story.

2. A River Never Sleeps by Roderick Haig-Brown

Roderick Haig-Brown's “A River Never Sleeps” perfectly captures the symbolic world in which music and rivers meet. For him, fishing is a form of art, and he speaks of it with great love as he takes his readers with him on his fly fishing adventures.

Driven by his passion for fly fishing, Haig-Brown will take you from ponds, lakes, and rivers down to the sea every season. In his essays, he shares the thrill of fishing out in the ocean during a thunderstorm, the suspense of hiding by the river as he waits for a prized fish, and the rush of happiness as he lands a big fish.

“A River Never Sleeps” is not only a fantastic read for fly fishing enthusiasts, but it is also a highly recommended classic for those who are just beginning their fishing journey. It gives readers a sense of what it is like to be a part of this community.

3. The Longest Silence: A Life in Fishing by Tom McGuane

Fly fishing and storytelling are two things Tom McGuane is widely known for. He has written multiple books about fishing over the years, and it is “The Longest Silence: A Life in Fishing” is the most indulgent one about fly fishing. This book is a collection of essays he has written over the years. His passion for fly fishing takes him from a river in his backyard to the greatest rivers for fly fishers in Ireland, Argentina, and Russia.

Having a way with words, McGuane shows anglers what a life dedicated to one passion is like as he talks about various aspects of his fishing journey, from securing permits to trout fishing and everything in between.

4. A River Runs Through It  by Norman Maclean

For every list that will come up on your Google search, you will most definitely find Norman Maclean's “A River Runs Through It.” This book's accolades over the years, including a film adaptation starring Brad Pitt in 1992, are well-deserved. It is one of the classic American books for fly fishing enthusiasts.

Beginning with the first sentence, "In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing,” Norman Maclean shares his childhood experiences growing up in a small town in Montana during the 1920s and living with his parents and younger brother. His father was a minister in a Presbyterian church and considered fly fishing the only joy in his life, so much so that he taught it to his two young sons. Talking about his and his brother's upbringing, Maclean shares his brother's struggles with alcoholism and gambling addiction, including how he was beaten to death with a gun and how those traumas have haunted their family. Considered Maclean's "love poem for his family,” it was the raw honesty with which he told his story that genuinely captivates readers.

5. Where the Trout Are All as Long as Your Leg by John Gierach

Over the years, John Gierach has written over 20 books about fly fishing, and choosing one is a feat. "Where the Trout Are All as Long as Your Leg,” though, is the book fly fishing readers can connect with as it talks about something every fly fisher can relate to finding the perfect fly fishing spot.

Gierach takes you on a fun-filled adventure of finding the ideal spot where the perfect trout can be found, from a small backyard stream to a secret creek riddled with snakes to a private pond. As readers follow him in his search for fly fishing spots, they will be reminded of the beauty of fishing and enjoying the unspoiled riches of nature.

For a lot of people, fly fishing can also be enjoyed through words on paper. From fictional works to personal essays and semi-autobiographical accounts, fly fishing has proven that it has no shortage of great literature.