ROYAL COACHMAN : The Lore and the Legend of Fly-fishing

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read for the off season
Review: Paul Schullery is a fly fisherman, naturalist, conservationist, outdoorsman, and fortunately for us, a prolific writer. Salted among the how-to, where-to, why-to books that dominate any fisherman's library there needs to be a shelf dedicated to the knowledge that there is more to fly-fishing than just catching fish. Royal Coachman is one such book. Schullery mixes a dash of history with a quarter cup of lore and a splash of opinion to produce a nightcap that goes down smooth. While this little book would please any time of the year, it is especially enjoyable read in the evening, with the snow blowing outside and a fire crackling in the fireplace.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read for the off season
Review: Paul Schullery is a fly fisherman, naturalist, conservationist, outdoorsman, and fortunately for us, a prolific writer. Salted among the how-to, where-to, why-to books that dominate any fisherman's library there needs to be a shelf dedicated to the knowledge that there is more to fly-fishing than just catching fish. Royal Coachman is one such book. Schullery mixes a dash of history with a quarter cup of lore and a splash of opinion to produce a nightcap that goes down smooth. While this little book would please any time of the year, it is especially enjoyable read in the evening, with the snow blowing outside and a fire crackling in the fireplace.

Rating:
Summary: Not the usual flyfishing book
Review: Schullery is kind to share the knowledge he accumulated as director of the American Museum of Fly Fishing. For those of us who want to know how we got where we are, this is a very valuable, readable collection of tales (lores and legends). The author is quick to relate his personal satisfactions with the sport to the legacy of past fishermen. I strongly recommend the book to fill the dead times when you are waiting for the water to be ready for your fly.

Rating:
Summary: Not run of the mill fly-fishing twaddle
Review: What a refreshing book! No cliched reminiscences of golden days afield here. Rather, Paul Schullery uses his training as a historian to examine the history of a classic fly, the authorship of classic trout literature and all manner of fly fishing icons. Throughout, his tone is genial but mildly cranky (he reminds me of Arnold Gingrich at his best). Go buy this book.