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Ep. 092: John Gierach

Published: 2017-11-27 11:00:00
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Lyons, CO- Steven Rinella talks with author and angler John Gierach, along with Janis Putelis of the MeatEater crew. Subjects Discussed: Gierach's work at a pivotal moment in Steven's life; the palpable anxiety of young adulthood; reading the literary canon in the autumn of life; "fly fishing is friggin' beautiful"; hook and bullet writing; why spin fishing doesn't produce the writers that fly fishing does; what's best for hunters and fishermen in America?; writers and their love of explaining and telling; the tricky thing about conservation; glimpses of abundance; catch and release fishing; and more. 

 

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Referenced Books

Trout Bum
by John Gierach
Steve Rinella discusses how this book, which came out in mid-eighties, fell into his lap during college years and helped him feel validated about pursuing a lifestyle focused on fishing and outdoor activities rather than material goods.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Fly Fishing in the High Country
by John Gierach
Mentioned as John Gierach's first book, published before Trout Bum.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Trout Fishing in America
by Richard Brautigan
Discussed in the context of counterculture literature and fishing writing. Rinella and Gierach discuss whether it holds up over time, with Gierach noting Brautigan is 'still funny' though perhaps 'a little thin in retrospect.'
Referenced at 00:00:08
Curtis Creek Manifesto
by Sheridan Anderson
Mentioned alongside Brautigan's work as part of the counterculture fishing literature discussion.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
by Tom Wolfe
Discussed as an example of New Journalism, where writers brought literary techniques into journalism, dropped pretense of objectivity, and became characters in their own stories. Described as 'not a news story about LSD' but 'a little deeper than that.'
Referenced at 00:00:08
At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman
by John Gierach
Gierach describes this as a 'seasons of the Angler thing' - a 'fourth season thing' where he went through the seasons, wrote chapters as essays, published most in magazines, then collected them into a book.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Fishing the Virgin Seas
by Zane Grey
Discussed as a Zane Grey book that Rinella has at home. Grey is described not just as a writer but as an innovator of tackle and equipment, going into great depth describing custom line making for big game fishing.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Coming into the Country
by John McPhee
Rinella asks if Gierach has read this book about Alaska, noting that McPhee spends a significant portion discussing oil drums as an ever-present thing, which relates to their discussion about the environmental cost of accessing remote places.
Referenced at 00:00:08
A Fly Rod of Your Own
by John Gierach
Gierach's newest book being promoted at the end of the interview. Rinella describes it as worthwhile for anyone who likes to fish or 'being alive on Earth.' This is Gierach's 18th or so book, and all are still in print.
Referenced at 00:00:08