reviews

an inconvenient trout

Reviewed by Scott Richmond

an inconvenient trout by Jack Ohman. Published by Headwater Books. 160 pages in a 6 x 9 inch softbound format. Black-and-white. Available through the publisher, online bookstores, some fly shops, and some trade bookstores.

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counted it a good day when my local newspaper, "The Oregonian," hired Jack Ohman to do its editorial cartoons. Not only is he funny, but he's an avid fly fisher. And when he turns his wit and his art to fly fishing, it's a good day for all of us.

an inconvenient trout is Ohman's second fly fishing humor book; Fear of Fly Fishing? was his first effort. an inconvenient trout is not just a collection of cartoons. It combines art and prose in the kind of devastating, inside-joke, right-on blast to your funny bone that only a dedicated fly fisher could produce--or react to.

A few examples:

1. A fake news story with the headline, Local Man Berated in Wyoming Fly Shop When He Calls a Fly Rod a 'Pole'"
2. What Guides Say: "Wow! That's a nice 22-incher!" versus What Guides Mean: "Thanks for the $100 tip!"
3. Eastern Anglers: Grandfather taught them to fly fish. Western Anglers: Grandfather taught them to use Helin Flatfish.
4. Fly fishing upside: Catching lots of fish. Fly Fishing downside: slime.
5. Fly fishing haiku (one of several): "Hmm. Cane or graphite?/It is an age-old question./You will break the cane."

And so it goes.

This is the sort of book you put on the coffee table, or perhaps in the basket next to the toilet. Plop down, relax, and read a chapter at random. We can all use this sort of perspective on life and our sport.

Bottom Line: Very funny book with lots of inside jokes for western fly fishers.  Reviewer Rating: 5

Scott Richmond is Westfly's creator and Executive Director. He is the author of eight books on Oregon fly fishing, including Fishing Oregon's Deschutes River (second edition).

Uploaded 03/08/2009.

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