All Fishermen Are Liars - (John Gierach's Fly-Fishing Library) by John Gierach (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This "elegiac tribute to the elusive art and ineffable pleasure of fly-fishing" (Kirkus Reviews) shows us why life's most valuable lessons--and some of its best experiences--are found while fly-fishing.

For John Gierach, "the master of fly-fishing" (Sacramento Bee), fishing is always the answer--even when it's not clear what the question is. In All Fishermen Are Liars, Gierach travels around North America seeking out quintessential fishing experiences, whether it's at a busy stream or a secluded lake hidden amid snow-capped mountains. He talks about the art of fly-tying and the quest for the perfect steelhead fly ("The Nuclear Option"), about fishing in the Presidential Pools previously fished by the elder George Bush ("I wondered briefly if I'd done something karmically disastrous and was now fated to spend the rest of my life breathing the exhaust of this elderly Republican"), and the importance of traveling with like-minded companions when caught in a soaking rain ("At this point someone is required to say, 'You know, there are people who wouldn't think this is fun'"). And though Gierach loses some fish along the way, he never loses his passion and sense of humor.

Wry, contemplative, and lively--that is to say, pure Gierach--All Fishermen Are Liars is a joy to read--and, as always, the next best thing to fishing itself. "From the early days...to his present cult status, Gierach's candor and canniness at the water's edge have been consistent...His grizzled, laconic persona is engaging and the voice of the common angler" (The Wall Street Journal).

Review Quotes

"All Fishermen Are Liars is rich in the savvy, humor, and sidelong takes on our sport that have made all of John's books such addictive reading."--Paul Schullery, author of If Fish Could Scream and The Fishing Life

"[Gierach is ] one of the best when it comes to bringing the heart and soul of fly fishing to anglers everywhere."--D'Arcy Egan "The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)"

"[Gierach's] writing here is unfailingly witty, generous of spirit and full of hard-won but easily shared knowledge. . . . It goes without saying that Gierach is a masterful storyteller, but what's even more obvious after reading Liars is that he is a profoundly skilled writer."--Steve Duda "The Flyfish Journal"

"A fisherman's testimony to the faithful. . . . [An] Elegiac tribute to the elusive art and ineffable pleasure of fly-fishing, with plenty of information about how it's done by true practitioners."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"John Gierach is one of the most successful fishing writers of all time, and with good reason. In his 17th book, Gierach reminds us in a delightful way that fishing never has been just about catching, though he can teach us a lot about that, too. . . . Despite taking trips as a famous angler to exotic fishing locales, Gierach has retained his down-to-earth fishing honesty and has never forgotten that some of the best stories are about wading a trout stream just down the road."--David Shaffer "Minneapolis Star Tribune"

"John Gierach remains the most consistently eloquent fly fishing writer of modern times."--James R. Babb, Editor, Gray's Sporting Journal

"Perceptive and witty. . . . These lyrical essays explode with descriptions of beautiful places, big fish, and beautiful fish. . . . But Gierach can write about more than trout and salmon."-- "Booklist"

About the Author

John Gierach was the author of more than twenty books about fly-fishing. His writing appeared in Field & Stream, Gray's Sporting Journal, and Fly Rod & Reel. He wrote a column for Trout magazine and the monthly Redstone Review. Gierach passed away in 2024.