Arc of the River
It is evident in these stories that fly fishing, for McCarthy, is about more than catching fish, but further, the places it takes us and the memories it creates. FROM THE FOREWORD... "When McCarthy first discussed this book with me, I knew he was an angler who had discovered original wisdom in the teachings of many rivers. He's a man who has caught many good fish on a fly, and yet, during our conversations, he never once mentioned a fish he had caught. The attention was focused on his family ties to the sport, the places he remembers, the poetic arc of an angler's life, and the reasons he returned to the river. In his words: 'In an upside-down world, I wanted to grab ahold of something meaningful. I sought a place where I could find freedom and tranquility. Fly fishing on a river was that place.' This is a book of wisdom, not only about fly fishing, but inherently more; it touches on the immortal pursuit of becoming better at understanding ourselves." The rivers of Montana are national treasures. In Arc of the River, McCarthy describes how fishing those majestic rivers can change one's perspective on life. From the initial struggle of how to use a rod and a reel, to understanding what flies to use, how to read the water and where to cast - fly fishing offers not only the opportunity to develop a new skill through focused practice, but also the chance to do so while immersed in some of the most peaceful and awe-inspiring settings in nature. Along the way, the act of fishing eventually fades to the background, and the angler becomes more connected to their surroundings. No place offers as many incredible rivers to fish as Montana. This book delves deeper into what a fly fisherman experiences on those rivers, from the joy of catching rainbows on the Big Hole River, to finding solitude on the Stillwater River, to exploring backcountry streams in the Yellowstone High Country, and finally to chasing after giant trout on the legendary Missouri and Bighorn Rivers. While each fly fishing experience eventually fades away, the love of the river remains.