What do you think?
Rate this book
Sex, Death, and Fly-Fishing
From the irrepressible author of Trout Bum and The View from Rat Lake comes an engaging, humorous, often profound examination of life's greatest mysteries: sex, death, and fly-fishing.
John Gierach's quest takes us from his quiet home water (an ordinary, run-of-the-mill trout stream where fly-fishing can be a casual affair) to Utah's famous Green River, and to unknown creeks throughout the Western states and Canada. We're introduced to a lively group of fishing buddies, some local "experts" and even an ex-girlfriend, along the way
Contemplative, evocative, and wry, he shares insights on mayflies and men, fishing and sport, life and love, and the meaning (or meaninglessness) of it all.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
62 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
John Gierach
42 books245 followersJohn Gierach was an American author and freelance writer who lived in Larimer County, Colorado.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 27, 2018
1st Gierach book I've read, now buying every one I can find, a must read even if you don't fly fish
July 26, 2024
This was a delightful read from start to finish. As an avid fly fisher, I was immediately captivated by Gierach's vivid writing and the way he brings the sport to life. His storytelling is both engaging and reflective, perfectly capturing the essence of fly fishing and the unique experiences it brings.
The narrative is exciting and filled with humor, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Gierach's anecdotes and insights into the sport resonate with anyone who loves fly fishing, making you feel like you're right there with him on the river. This book is a must-read for anyone passionate about fly fishing or simply looking for an enjoyable, well-written book on adventures.
The narrative is exciting and filled with humor, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Gierach's anecdotes and insights into the sport resonate with anyone who loves fly fishing, making you feel like you're right there with him on the river. This book is a must-read for anyone passionate about fly fishing or simply looking for an enjoyable, well-written book on adventures.
July 26, 2025
kind of obsessed w this lol. delightful
September 22, 2017
My Rating – Must Read
Level – Quick, easy
Summary
Another collection of musings from John Gierach. Topics include bass fishing, private ponds, walking sticks, British Columbia, and of course the title chapter – ‘Sex, Death, & Fly-Fishing’. I’d say spoiler alert, but the book was published almost 30 years ago, so that seems unnecessary. The title comes from the first chapter, and honestly, it is surprising poetic. It comes from the Mayfly hatch. The midge, a little bug at the bottom of the river, emerge out all at roughly the same time to mate, then eggs are laid and then all die. All of the bugs emerging and all the Mayflies dying/falling back to the water, leads to a feeding frenzy for the fish. This in turn leads to a great time for fly-fishing. Get it?
My Thoughts
Geirach is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I wouldn’t call it love/hate, because I don’t dislike him, just endlessly envious of his style and ability to write. I’m almost annoyed that he isn’t more famous, he isn’t even on twitter or the fishing blogosphere (interestingly/ironically, wordpress say that isn’t a word). I’m sure a guy who has written 15 books, including one called Trout Bum (my review), isn’t worried about the opinion of a guy born after he was already publishing books.
His books really are something like proto-blogs. Imagine a successful outdoor blogger who writes a number of interesting series of posts, then picks the best few series over a number of years, pulls them out, and cleans them up, his books are what you’d get. His writing is narrative and personal, but can also be surprisingly informative. He is a master story-teller in a first person, short-story style. For anyone even remotely interested in fishing, this book is another must read from Gierach.
More reviews - https://MondayMorningTheologian.com/
Level – Quick, easy
Summary
Another collection of musings from John Gierach. Topics include bass fishing, private ponds, walking sticks, British Columbia, and of course the title chapter – ‘Sex, Death, & Fly-Fishing’. I’d say spoiler alert, but the book was published almost 30 years ago, so that seems unnecessary. The title comes from the first chapter, and honestly, it is surprising poetic. It comes from the Mayfly hatch. The midge, a little bug at the bottom of the river, emerge out all at roughly the same time to mate, then eggs are laid and then all die. All of the bugs emerging and all the Mayflies dying/falling back to the water, leads to a feeding frenzy for the fish. This in turn leads to a great time for fly-fishing. Get it?
My Thoughts
Geirach is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I wouldn’t call it love/hate, because I don’t dislike him, just endlessly envious of his style and ability to write. I’m almost annoyed that he isn’t more famous, he isn’t even on twitter or the fishing blogosphere (interestingly/ironically, wordpress say that isn’t a word). I’m sure a guy who has written 15 books, including one called Trout Bum (my review), isn’t worried about the opinion of a guy born after he was already publishing books.
His books really are something like proto-blogs. Imagine a successful outdoor blogger who writes a number of interesting series of posts, then picks the best few series over a number of years, pulls them out, and cleans them up, his books are what you’d get. His writing is narrative and personal, but can also be surprisingly informative. He is a master story-teller in a first person, short-story style. For anyone even remotely interested in fishing, this book is another must read from Gierach.
More reviews - https://MondayMorningTheologian.com/
September 27, 2021
I love reading Gierach when I can't be out on the water, because he captures the spirit and joy of fishing, and the places we fish, and being on the water. As always, funny, perceptive, beautifully descriptive, filled with insights into flyfishing and life in general (oh, that's right, they're one and the same).
October 12, 2023
#1100 - I liked Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Stangers more but this one was still worth of 5 stars. I've found myself in some relatable experiences with this book even though I am no where near John's level fishing expertise. I can count all the fish I've caught on a fly rod with one had at the moment.
December 5, 2020
The best fly fishing author on the planet. Period.
November 9, 2021
Great book...and I'm not a fly fisherman...but am ready to go and try it.
March 11, 2019
How is it possible that I hadn't read john Gierach before? All I can say is that I'm stoked he has a plethora of books to choose from. I can't wait to read more of his stories. If you are into fly fishing at all, you owe it to yourself to pick up some of his work.
May 20, 2019
Superb, well into his stride by this one.
November 7, 2019
If you've read one Gierach book you've read 'em all. I still love 'em however.
November 28, 2019
Reading this was almost as fun as catching the big one.
January 27, 2022
This guy writes about life and fly fishing like Anthony Bourdain wrote about life and cooking. Easily one of the best books I have read in recent years, and I already can’t wait to reread it.
May 31, 2022
Another great read. This one feels deeper and more meaningful but the could just be me romanticizing portions. Either way, this is a great book for anyone who loves the outdoors.
January 5, 2023
Old timers’ knowledge.
February 7, 2023
Great, easy reading. Fun stories with quality information as well.
March 31, 2023
A wonderful book! Very enjoyable. John Gierach has a way of making you feel like you’re beside him fishing, while also keeping things lighthearted and comical at times.
September 21, 2023
John Gierach is a brilliant author and makes the story of fly fishing relatable and hilarious! Highly recommend.
January 19, 2024
(Read Book) Lots of little stories about fly-fishing, life around fly-fishing, friends and other odds and ends. Very easy read and stories are told with a little laugh in mind. Very enjoyable book.
September 23, 2024
Insect sex...for all you Baptist
February 14, 2025
Every book I have read by this author is great. Easy, wholesome read. Nothing life changing, but better for the soul than scrolling social media.
May 9, 2025
Rather enjoyable.
Took me back to being a nipper.
The destruction of the world by the greedy grifters, hopefully the sea bed will fight back! 😱
Took me back to being a nipper.
The destruction of the world by the greedy grifters, hopefully the sea bed will fight back! 😱
June 19, 2025
A very nice read, and very standard Gierach. The stories are fun and highly varied in this collection; well worth the read..
September 24, 2025
loved it. can someone teach me how to fish?
January 6, 2026
Pleasant and enjoyable. Fun stories and a good perspective on life and (in) fly fishing
December 7, 2019
Read my thoughts here
https://bookaroundthecorner.wordpress...
https://bookaroundthecorner.wordpress...
August 22, 2014
The book is a collection of essays written more about fly-fishing than sex. The writing is crisp and avoids any notion of being "flowery." Gierach is at his best when things go bad - real bad. In the context of fishing that is. The worst fishing conditions bring out his laser-focused wit in Sex, Death, and Fly-Fishing. And nobody or nothing is off-limits. He'll take a swing at "selective" trout and those "tweed-coat" types along with anyone else who happens to be near where he's fishing. A good example which had me laughing was "The Drought Years."
But it's not all laughs. Gierach has the unusual talent of sneaking in very lucid observations. Just when you think he's going to continue on his comedic-roll... Bang, he hits you with a simple truth of the matter. A truth you probably knew, but never saw put in words so simply and clearly.
Gierach can even render the philosophical without sounding philosophical. Again, he finds a way to express a concept like an "ecosystem" in terms I think we can all understand:
"A good ecologist can dovetail into dovetail until the whole thing stretches out of sight. We call it an ecosystem now; earlier Americans called it the Sacred Circle. Either way it can make your little head swim with a vision of a thing of great size and strength that still depends on the underpinning of its smallest members."
Makes sense... So, maybe it is about the birds and bees afterall.
But it's not all laughs. Gierach has the unusual talent of sneaking in very lucid observations. Just when you think he's going to continue on his comedic-roll... Bang, he hits you with a simple truth of the matter. A truth you probably knew, but never saw put in words so simply and clearly.
Gierach can even render the philosophical without sounding philosophical. Again, he finds a way to express a concept like an "ecosystem" in terms I think we can all understand:
"A good ecologist can dovetail into dovetail until the whole thing stretches out of sight. We call it an ecosystem now; earlier Americans called it the Sacred Circle. Either way it can make your little head swim with a vision of a thing of great size and strength that still depends on the underpinning of its smallest members."
Makes sense... So, maybe it is about the birds and bees afterall.
August 18, 2009
I can't decide whether this man is a better writer than he is fisherman. How can I know? Fisherman are known to lie--nay, exaggerate, perhaps--but it sounds as though his catch-and-release has allowed him years of fishing pleasure, pain, and travail as is only right for one who writes of it. I adore his crotchety voice, his clear descriptions of locales we outsiders will never see, had we the time and the hand-tyed flies.
The laconic tales of grown men who spend their time (and not just vacations and weekends!) catching fish, only to release them again, somehow makes the absurdity of our modern life more bearable. The effort lavished on the deceit by the artful tying of a fly that matches a molt that occurs only once a season must describe the craziest hobbyist or the most righteous artist at his task. This kind of passion enriches his life, and ours, too.
The laconic tales of grown men who spend their time (and not just vacations and weekends!) catching fish, only to release them again, somehow makes the absurdity of our modern life more bearable. The effort lavished on the deceit by the artful tying of a fly that matches a molt that occurs only once a season must describe the craziest hobbyist or the most righteous artist at his task. This kind of passion enriches his life, and ours, too.
February 1, 2014
I finally dipped my toes into Gierach, a lion of the fishing world, and perhaps the original (did anybody write down fishing stories before John Gierach?) I've picked up this book every time I needed a yarn to make me laugh, ponder, and relax. Gierach channels the experience of becoming completely immersed in the pursuit of a trout, how that experience transforms our relationship with the natural world, and even how it affects our relationships. This is a book I can likely pick up in the future every time I need a story to help me re-set, and will likely enjoy them just as much the second time around.
August 28, 2021
What a masterful storyteller...and funny as hell too. This book is a collection of vignettes, reflecting upon fishing, friendship and life. There is a real beauty to his prose, without any flowery bits to it. Not that I have a thing against flowery bits--in fact, I love to read them, it's just that he writes beautifully without them. There is real depth to his thinking, and he relates it well. Any man who asks questions more than he gives answers seems to me well versed in wisdom. This man is a master craftsman and fisherman. His knowledge has depth. One day, I'd like to match it. Until then, his stories will take me there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews