Upland Stream by W D Wetherell

 Reading Wetherell's last book in his fly-fishing trilogy first, "One River More", is to have the side of history in your favour. One can see the path Wetherell trod and also appreciate why he has decided to call it quits with this particular genre. Although I enjoyed "One River More" immensely, compared to "Upland Stream", it was self-indulgent,  like soft sticky toffee.

Upland Stream has a more direct and immediate style with fewer excursions into existential thoughts and doubts. It is a tighter read and better for it.

Three real gems light up this book: Wetherell's wonderful thoughts on New England small stream brook trout fishing in "Copper Run", where "hemlock-dwelling trout mock you with their inaccessibility". His trip to the mecca of fly-fishing, Yellowstone, in "Big (Smoky) Sky" at a time when the rivers are closed down to forest fires; and Two Places Well, where Wetherell re-discovers the joys of wet fly fishing in Scotland and visits the place of my own ancestors, Galloway. And it's obvious to this reader which waters Wetherell likes to fish. The quiet unassuming shaded stream where small wild trout glide beneath undercut banks and the heavy scent of wild garlic fills the air.

 We "see" through our fly. It's the thrill of being hunted that gives fishing its charm. And, like the trout he catches, I am one reader who will return to take a look at the the lure which is his first book - "Vermont River".