Pocket Water: Confessions of a Restless Angler

by William G. Tapply

In this collection of twenty-eight essays that moves with remarkable ease from the quirky to the lyrical to the downright hilarious is vintage Tapply.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

William G. Tapply (1940–2009) was an American author best known for writing legal thrillers. A lifelong New Englander, he graduated from Amherst and Harvard before going on to teach social studies at Lexington High School. He published his first novel, Death at Charity’s Point, in 1984. A story of death and betrayal among Boston Brahmins, it introduced crusading lawyer Brady Coyne, a fishing enthusiast whom Tapply would follow through twenty-five more novels, including Follow the Sharks, The Vulgar Boatman, and the posthumously published Outwitting Trolls.

Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Gerald Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Wm G Tapply is a treasure. It is a classic angling book of many short stories. I find that Tapply is one of my favorite authors because I enjoy re-reading his works over and over again. His series of murder mysteries are standing the test of time. His principle mystery solver is Boston lawyer Brady, who talks a lot about fishing but is too busy solving the mystery to get out on the river. Mr. Tapply has a least one more fishing book under his belt, how to fish for Bass with fly fishing gear and one on Upland Bird hunting. He has passed but is still a source of some great reading and I endorse all his writing efforts.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I had read many of the essays in American Angler, I found this a good read by the cottage. Quite time, with some fish jumping on Georgian Bay and a cold beer. My favourite essay is the Secrets of the Littlehorn. Everyone has their favourite trout stream...