Cast, Catch, Release - by Marina Gibson

About the Book

"As her twenty-first birthday approached, Marina Gibson received a unique gift suggestion from her parents, who offered her a choice between fishing rods or jewelry. In an unconventional decision, she opted for fishing rods. Her intention was to rekindle a childhood passion and carry on a family tradition initiated by her mother, who had dedicated years to pursuing salmon in the rivers of the Scottish Highlands. As fishing overtook Marina's life and evolved into a full-time career, she became enraptured by the silent mysteries of the river and the quiet magic of angling. The complexity of fly fishing and the rituals of casting provided her refuge from a failing marriage, giving her a reliable source of comfort that benefited both her mind and soul. It also revealed the barriers that exist for women trying to make it in a tradition-bound and male-dominated world. Tracing the epic, migratory journey of the Atlantic salmon alongside the ups and downs of her personal story, Cast, Catch, Release brings to life the joys of fishing, the spirited quest of the angler, and how these two paths meet on lakes and riverbanks around the world. A love letter to this exhilarating yet serene sport, Gibson shows what it means to find peace and purpose amidst the majesty of the great outdoors"--

Book Synopsis

For fans of Cheryl Strayed's Wild and Helen Macdonald's H Is for Hawk, a lyrical memoir and "engaging, endearing, deeply felt" (David Coggins) ode to the art of fly fishing and how it can shape a life--by renowned female angler and conservationist Marina Gibson.

As her twenty-first birthday approached, Marina Gibson received a unique gift suggestion from her parents, who offered her a choice between fishing rods or jewelry. In an unconventional decision, she opted for fishing rods. Her intention was to rekindle a childhood passion and carry on a family tradition initiated by her mother, who had dedicated years to pursuing salmon in the rivers of the Scottish Highlands.

As fishing overtook Marina's life and evolved into a full-time career, she became enraptured by the silent mysteries of the river and the quiet magic of angling. The complexity of fly fishing and the rituals of casting provided her refuge from a failing marriage, giving her a reliable source of comfort that benefited both her mind and soul. It also revealed the barriers that exist for women trying to make it in a tradition-bound and male-dominated world.

Tracing the epic, migratory journey of the Atlantic salmon alongside the ups and downs of her personal story, Cast, Catch, Release brings to life the joys of fishing, the spirited quest of the angler, and how these two paths meet on lakes and riverbanks around the world. A love letter to this exhilarating yet serene sport, Gibson shows what it means to find peace and purpose amidst the majesty of the great outdoors.

Review Quotes

"An engaging, vivid, and deft mix of memoir and angling recollections... for anyone looking to make personal lives and careers more rewarding." --Booklist, starred review

"An engaging, endearing, deeply felt book. A moving portrait of the end of a marriage and an absorbing account of the Atlantic salmon, one of the world's great creatures." --David Coggins, author of The Optimist

"A unique and very enjoyable story, filled with simple joys and more complex challenges." --Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree

"A revealing book about life, salmon, and angling. Marina Gibson's writing is as exquisite as her casting." --Paul Whitehouse, author of How We Fish

"An engaging, forthright and impressive debut. This highly personal memoir will appeal to anyone who loves what fishing can bring to life... fluent and assured." --David Profumo, author of The Lightning Thread

"Gibson compares the harrowing natural history of the Atlantic salmon to her own restless, sometimes reckless life and illustrates that, although it really is possible to find serenity and purpose through fly-fishing, getting there can be a long, strange trip." --John Gierach, author of All the Time in the World

"A well-wrought story of love, self-love, and fly fishing. Marina Gibson's book illuminates the healing power of practicing something complicated while immersed, literally, in the natural world. A book for lovers of memoir and anyone who thrills to the catch." --Kristin Kimball, author of The Dirty Life

"If you came here for angling action, you won't be disappointed.... Catch, Cast, Release is a wonderful tale of one woman's love affair with fly fishing, initiated by her mother on the banks of a salmon river. She turned that love into a lifelong adventure, fly rod in hand. Along the way, she used the mindfulness afforded by the rhythmic casting to ease her through life's rough patches." --Sport Fishing

"A pleasant and quick read that illustrates how one woman's passion puts her directly downstream from her purpose." --CastingAcross.com