Fly and the Fish: Angling Instructions and Reminiscences

By: John Atherton and Mike Valla

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Synopsis: The classic book from a revered artist and fly-tying master. An internationally renowned artist, John Atherton (1900-1952) was also a legend in the world of fly fishing. This lost classic, originally published in 1961, combines his evocative memoirs of Vermont fishing expeditions with practical directions for fly-tying. Atherton’s reminiscences and instructions are complemented by his exquisite sketches of tools and scenes from the angler’s life. The author’s wife, artist Maxine Atherton, notes in her introduction that in addition to his skills as an accomplished artist and fine sportsman John Atherton was a romantic realist, whose exuberant outbursts of wonder over natural phenomena celebrated our planet’s everyday magic. Indeed, Atherton’s work was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s 1943 exhibition of American Realists and Magic Realists. On a more practical note, Maxine Atherton adds that the Impressionistic fly patterns such as those featured in this book have worked wonders for her fishing, fooling trout in rivers throughout North America and Europe.