The Fish's Eye: Essays About Angling and the Outdoors

by Ian Frazier

In The Fish's Essays about Angling and the Outdoors , Ian Frazier "A Great Storyteller" ( Newsweek ), and one of the "American Originals" ( Washington Post Book World) explores his lifelong passion for fishing, fish, and the aquatic world.

He sees the angler's environment all around him-in New York's Grand Central Station, in the cement-lined pond of a city park, in a shimmering bonefish flat in the Florida keys, in the trout streams of the Rocky Mountains. He marvels at the fishing in the turbid Ohio River by downtown Cincinnati, where a good bait for catfish is half a White Castle french fry. The incidentals of the angling experience, the who and the where of it, interest him as much as what he catches and how.

The essays (including the famous profile of master angler Jim Deren, late proprietor of New York's tackle store, the Angler's Roost) contain sharply focused observations of the American outdoors, a place filled with human alterations and detritus that somehow remains defiantly unruined. Frazier's simple love of the sport lifts him to straight -ahead angling description that are among the best contemporary writing on the subject.

The Fish's Eye brings together twenty years of heartfelt, funny, and vivid essays on a timeless pursuit where so many mysteries, both human and natural, coincide.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Nature, Outdoors

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Ian Frazier (b.1951) is an American writer and humorist. He is the author of Travels in Siberia, Great Plains, On the Rez, Lamentations of the Father and Coyote V. Acme, among other works, all published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He graduated from Harvard University. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, he lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianfra...

Reviews

[Will Benkelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fish’s Eye was a lovely collection of stories that any angler can find themselves in. I really enjoyed “An Angler at Heart” and feel that it honored the local tackle shop owner and their eccentricity well. The book highlights the day-to-day aspect of fishing accurately. Frazier has an easy reading style and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fishing books!

[ron swegman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intellectual and poised rather than visceral and frank, Ian Frazier's writing in this often humorous collection of fishing and general outdoor essays delivers some excellent authentic moments, including the one and only reference I have yet encountered describing the catching of a clam using rod and reel.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Fish's Eye: Essays About Angling and the Outdoors, Ian Frazier explores his lifelong passion for fishing, fish, and the aquatic world. He sees the angler's environment all around him -- in the cement-lined pond of a city park, in a shimmering bonefish flat in the Florida Keys, in the trout streams of the Rocky Mountains. The incidentals of the angling experience, the who and the where of it, interest him as much as what he catches and how. The essays contain sharply focused observations of the American outdoors, a place filled with human alterations and detritus that somehow remains defiantly unruined. The Fish's Eye brings together twenty years of heartfelt, funny, and vivid essays on a timeless pursuit where so many mysteries, both human and natural, coincide."
~~back cover

This was a fun book to read, filled as it is with vignettes from the author's lifelong pursuit of fishing and happiness. It often espouses a different light on a familiar pastime or place, giving the reader something to chew on after the book is finished.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not since Trout Madness have I read a book this enjoyable about fishing. What a joy to read .
I was hoping it would not end-it was that much fun.
Touching and realistic tales of the struggles and passion of fishing, and how it struggles in our modern world.
Looking forward to reading more by the author.

[Gary Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just another angling book. It's an angling book by a New Yorker Magazine writer, so it's beautifully and touchingly written.

The only other writer in this category is John McPhee... so you know you're in for a treat when you open it.

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, if you are wondering why I read this b/c it doesn't seem like anything I would read - you are not too far off. I decided to broaden my reading some and looked up a creative non-fiction writing course and then looked at the required reading list. Ian Frazier was one of the authors listed. So I then inserted Ian's name in the search bar for my local library- this one came up and I checked it out. The whole book is essays on fish, fishing, fish shops, fishing, fishing, etc. You get the idea. Some of the essays I was laughing my head off- others I plowed through chanting to myself that I am broadening my perspective (over and over). At the end of reading all about fishing- do I understand the thrill of fishing- nope- but then I didn't really expect to. But I can tell you that if you are fishing in a river in the middle of a caddisfly hatch (maybe it was a mayfly hatch- hmmm....) that you can just stay put and eat your fill so as not to waste time while fishing.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until I saw Swegman’s review, I didn’t know that Frazier could write “fish.” In fact, he does it with great wit and humor. What a surprising range of experiences, and not all strictly fishing: there’s getting to the right water, shopping for gear, listening to advice (some good, some bad), even tasting the bait. I enjoyed every essay, though would give a special nod to Frazier’s journal of discovery related to the spring melt along Montana’s Pattee Creek. And, as a character study, you’ll rarely find anyone more memorable and interesting than Jim D. in “An Angler at Heart.”

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a gorgeously constructed set of essays about fly-fishing, both in the mountain west (MT) and the urban east (NJ and NY). I especially enjoyed the mental image of Frazier carrying his rod and tackle on the subway in the wee hours of the morning to hit a hot spot for striped bass. Great, thoughtful writing here that makes me realize that I don't go fishing nearly enough.

[David Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Fish’s Eye: Essays About Angling and the Outdoors by Ian Frazier (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux 2002) (799.1). I bought this for $2.00 as a brand new hardback from McKay’s Used Books. I barely got my money’s worth. My rating 3/10, finished 2008.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one years ago and don't recall many details, but one thing I remember is how refreshing it was to experience Frazier's non-purist attitude toward the outdoors...like how much he relished fishing for trout in a stream right behind a muffler shop.

[Matt Neznanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. The tale of pop culture detritus is super great, and totally right on. I re-read this every couple of years and love it each time.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun stuff, although I got lost at times when he started talking about fishing tackle.

[Jake Eslinger]

I really enjoyed this book because it was very informational and I actually learned things about fishing while enjoying his stories.