A River Never Sleeps

by Roderick L. Haig-Brown

An enduring classic of angling literature that captures the music of rivers and the great joy of angling.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Outdoors, Conservation

364 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Roderick Langmere Haig-Brown (February 21, 1908 — October 9, 1976) was a Canadian writer and conservationist, who is acclaimed internationally for his writing on fly fishing.

Reviews

[Bradley West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perhaps the best fishing biography of all time. For the longest time, I held off reading any Haig-Brown because I didn't identify with the main advocates, those (seemingly) elitist fly fishermen on Internet message boards. About a decade ago I picked up a used copy of "Fisherman's Fall" (his second best book)and marveled at the man's ability to tell a story -- mostly about fish and fishing -- so clearly and lyrically. In short order I learned that RH-B moved to Canada post WWI as teen and earned a living any which way he could, including falling timber and trolling spoons on heavy spinning gear for VI springs. Nothing effete about this fellow! I was well and truly hooked and have read another half dozen of his books (including the four seasons books).

But the jewel in the crown is ARNS. Haig-Brown's personal story so worth reading that my non-fishing 70 year mother rated it one of the better non-fiction books she'd ever read. Rod Brown led such a fascinating life in a time and place that offered sport fishing opportunities few of us will ever see . . . and certainly none in native English speaking countries. His love of rivers, forests, and people shows itself not in some philosophical meanderings, but in a vital sense of shared excitement at discovery and participation. Here's a man who wanted to know where the fish lay in his home water, the Campbell River. Rod wriggled into a wetsuit, put on a mask, snorkel and flippers and swam the river, diving down to spy the chinooks holding in the deep all the other salmon and trout in between. To test whether or not waders would fill with water and pull the wrong-footed angler to the bottom of the river to tumble and inevitably drown in those lead (sic) boots, he put on his waders and walked out over his head to see what happened. (Not a whole lot other than getting wet and needing to point his feet downstream to prevent hitting his head on boulders.) Haig-Brown was also an innovative and expert fly fishermen, pioneering the dead drifted dry fly for summer run steelhead. His stories of long-gone fishing holes and extinct runs of salmonids heighten the pleasure fishing addicts like myself derive from reading and thinking, "What would it have been like to have stood on the banks on the Stamp watching the General fish his run?"

A well-lived life in and around fishing, in a beautifully told book.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty easy to see why this one's so highly regarded. Haig-Brown comes closer to over-writing at times, but doesn't, and everything's pretty straightforward in a rewarding way. There are more than just fishing exploits, but he writes those extremely well. His successes are rarely cause for self-congratulation, and his failures are never cause for misery. He seems to be perpetually exploring and learning, and it's engaging. By the mid-point of the book, I was pretty sure that I would have enjoyed fishing with Haig-Brown, and by the end of the book I was convinced I was born a half century too late, even if (especially if?) it would have meant roughing it for a living.

I think this one works best when it's read slowly and over a period of time, properly absorbed. There are a few spots that drag, but otherwise you'll want to both keep reading and keep slowing down.

[Les Aucoin]

My friend and fishing buddy, Jim Blomquist, gave me a copy of this fly fishing classic, originally copyrighted in 1947. Rich and evocative, it puts you into the pulse of a river.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fisherman's reminissings

This is a well written book by an author who captures the feeling of long time fisherman and why we fish. The feeling vs of being on the bank of a river, assessing the run of the river to find where the. Great catch hides. I enjoyed his appreciation for the river or lake, as much as the trout or salmon it held. I really enjoyed this book.

[Phillip E Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great old book.

[Bob Beckert · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those special writers that just has the knack.

[Dick Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifetime fisherman, I really liked this memoir-like collection of fishing stories, experiences.. and river knowledge. Terrific read!

[Scott Bischke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago and greatly enjoyed Haig-Brown's ability to evoke the spirit of the river and the fisherman. My copy is all marked up with quotes I loved, with the simple, elegant imagery Haig-Brown paints.
---(pg 352)---
I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel.
---

[Jared]

The greatest fly fishing book ever written... or something like that. This guy knows rivers and he knows how to fish, I'll give him that, but I lost interest by the end. I guess it didn't have enough twists and turns. I knew how the story would end, regardless if he caught the monster fish or not. He certainly made me want to see more of BC, and fish it of course.

[caihlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colossal in the genre. I read it constantly. In my estimation the finest and if I could only have one book/....

[Derek Grzelewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time fabs. I read it about once a year, along with The Longest Silence and River Runs through it. Never enough of such good thing

[Peter Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic, reflective and honest. A lyrical insight into the twin passions of fly fishing and wild rivers.