Book: Fly Fishing Austin
Recently I’ve taken a page from my friend Dusty Smith’s book (is it too early in this for a pun?) and have been reading several fly fishing guide books to various areas. It’s a great way to while away the time during this season of ‘stay at home orders’ and dream up some plans for the hopefully not so distant future. Over the years I’ve noticed there are different kinds of guide books. There are ones about a general area, there are books that are instructional and give detailed techniques to use for a specific area, books that give a few spots to try to fish and there are some that paint a complete picture of the fishing and culture of an area. That’s Aaron’s book. It is thick with facts about fishing in the Austin and central Texas area and honestly it sets the bar for any future guide books.
I will not attempt to do an official book review. I’m really not qualified for that but I figured I’d share my thoughts and impressions about what Aaron has accomplished with his book Fly Fishing Austin and Central Texas.
First of all, I’d like to say right off the bat that Aaron Reed is a good friend. At first he was an e-friend that I’d never met but had bought a rod from me. But he’s turned into the kind of friend that when you’re driving through Texas and are possibly near his house you call him to see if you can come by and say hi. He says sure and gives you his address so you stop by to meet him for the first time. You sit down and have a green tea with him and chat and begin to make plans for a truly epic and unlikely road trip. Then you go on this road trip and you learn the goods and the bads and are even better friends when it’s over. We chat a few times a week on the phone and send stupid and inappropriate memes to each other. He’s been a big supporter of my rods and is a big influence on the popularity of my rods in Texas. He wears my CBFRCo hat and has my stickers on his Jeep. That’s the kind of friend he is. One of the good ones that you really value.
Anyway, I could go into Michael W. Smith’s ‘Friends (are friends forever)’ here but I won’t.
The book itself is impressive. It’s not a brief pamphlet but a 384 page high quality and attractive book full of clear and reliable information. It’s entertaining and informational. He mentions my rods which I really do appreciate but even if he didn’t I’d feel the same. He talks about music to listen to, beers to drink, bbq joints to stop at, techniques, locations, history, entomology, culture, includes detailed area maps, and the wonder and importance of taking a kid fishing. You don’t have to be from Texas or even to have visited to appreciate this book. The fishing culture of central Texas is like no other that I’ve experienced and this book is a clear reflection of that. There’s a saying that says ‘keep Austin weird’. This book really isn’t weird but it has personality that reflects the culture and ideology of central Texas fly fishing. I’m proud to have grown up in east Texas, to have started fly fishing in Texas and have enjoyed the many natural wonders of central Texas and this book reminds my why I get homesick. It’s not just the fishing but the life and people, but also the fishing.
I’m proud of Aaron, I’m proud of this labor of love of his and I know it will be a success and even a classic. It even has foldy/flappy things on the front and back covers that you can use as a book mark.
Just to prove Aaron’s awesomeness even more, he dropped by mom’s house last week in Round Rock to social distance-ly hand deliver her very own copy of the book.
Next week was supposed to be a week of shindigs in Austin to celebrate the release of this great book. I was going to be there along with a bunch of other out-of-towners and friends. There was going to be music by Jeff Troutman at Mesquite Creek Outfitters. Fly Tying by Brandon Bailes. Beer from Real Ale and whiskey from Real Spirits and others I’m sure. And fishing. There was going to be a lot of fishing going on.
All that was cancelled due to the Covid-19 cooties but we’ll figure out a way to celebrate when it’s appropriate. In the meantime, please buy this book. You can buy it through Amazon but I think a better idea is to call Reel Fly in Canyon Lake at (830) 964-4823 or Living Waters in Round Rock at (512) 828-3474 (both fantastic local Austin area fly shops) and order a copy that may very well have an authentic Aaron Reed autograph in it. Order some local flies while you’re at it.