If John Gierach is living in a fool’s heaven, then it’s a paradise that his regular readers will recognize and new enthusiasts will delight in discovering. Laced with the inimitable blend of wit and intelligence that have made him fly-fishing’s most important scribe, Fool’s Heaven chronicles the fishing life in all its glory (getting your biggest seafood ever) and squalor (getting stranded within a tent during a soaking rainstorm). In Gierach’s world, both experiences are valuable, as well as perhaps inevitable.

Fishermen everywhere will understand Gierach’s pursuit to discover and explore fresh waters, the unlikely selling point of winter season fly-fishing, or his dismay at encroaching advancement. Braving journeys on small prop planes and down “Oh-My-God” roads, Gierach and his fishing buddies go after bull trout in English Columbia, steelhead in the Rocky Mountains, and pike therefore fierce a sensible fisherman wears Kevlar gloves for the obligatory trophy image.

Equal parts fishing lore, philosophy, and great seafood stories, Fool’s Heaven may not be a perfect substitute for actually being out on water, but it’s surely another best thing.