Description

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Catskill Rivers is the story of the “birthplace of the American fly fishing.” Readers will discover this birthplace in such hallowed trout streams as the Beaverkill, the Willowemoc, the Neversink, the Delaware, the Esopus, and the Schoharie. While originally published in 1983, Catskill Rivers remains the definitive study of these fabled waters and the remarkable people who created the American fly-fishing tradition.

Painstakingly researched and imaginatively told, readers will also get an unforgettable survey of the early river industries, including rafting, sawmills, tanneries, and wood-acid factories, as well as at the early days on these classic trout waters, where George LaBranche, in Sparse Gray Hackle’s words, “adapted the dry fly to fast water and started an angling revolution.” Along with numerous historical glimpses into the many sociological forces surrounding the Catskill Rivers, readers will see many early, famous flyfishers take to these waters, including “Uncle Thad” Norris, Seth Green, Theodore Gordon, Herman Christian, Roy Steenrod, Sparse Gray Hackle, and many more.

This historically accurate and beautifully written glance back into the early days of the Catskill Rivers will have both fishermen and nonfishermen wanting even more.

Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for fishermen. Our books for anglers include titles that focus on fly fishing, bait fishing, fly-casting, spin casting, deep sea fishing, and surf fishing. Our books offer both practical advice on tackle, techniques, knots, and more, as well as lyrical prose on fishing for bass, trout, salmon, crappie, baitfish, catfish, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

About the Author

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Austin M. Francis is a noted angling historian and biographer as well as an acknowledged authority on the history of Catskill fly fishing. He has a home in the Catskill Mountains, where he has fished there for more than forty-five years. He is also the author of Land of Little Rivers.

Praise For…

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"Here is a book that any serious trout man will find both useful and pleasurable. Well written and thoroughly researched, it belongs in the library of every American angler." —Geoffrey Norman

"More than a scholarly history, Catskill Rivers left me wading in nostalgia. I could smell the rhododendron blossoming on Dry Brook and even caught a whiff of the hairy armpits of Keener's Pool. Austin Francis has spawned a classic." —A. J. McClane

"Except in dreams, I've never fished these streams and I've always felt I never knew enough about them. Finally I do. This book is a jewel." —Charles E. Brooks

"In the 2014 edition, newsman Dan Rather, an avid Catskill angler, contributed a Preface. Francis wrote a new Introduction, which appears in the pages after his original Introduction. The last chapter, "Catskill Rivers Today," is extensively rewritten. the original chapter listed conservation organizations and fishing businesses. Francis updated these lists and also added an extensive list of licensed fishing guides in the Catskills. This chapter includes new essays by four noted Catskill guides on "how our rivers fish." Ed Ostapczuk, Judd Weisberg, Dick Smith, and Walt Ackerman consider, respectively, changes and constants on the Esopus, Schoharie, Beaverkill and Willowemoc, and the Delaware and its branches.

"New and returning Catskill anglers will find something helpful in this third edition of Catskill Rivers. If you can't travel to the Catskills to fish, reading Francis's book is one of the next best things to being there!" --
Kaatskill Life, Spring 2015.

"Here is a book that any serious trout man will find both useful and pleasurable. Well written and thoroughly researched, it belongs in the library of every American angler." —Geoffrey Norman

"More than a scholarly history, Catskill Rivers left me wading in nostalgia. I could smell the rhododendron blossoming on Dry Brook and even caught a whiff of the hairy armpits of Keener's Pool. Austin Francis has spawned a classic." —A. J. McClane

"Except in dreams, I've never fished these streams and I've always felt I never knew enough about them. Finally I do. This book is a jewel." —Charles E. Brooks

"In the 2014 edition, newsman Dan Rather, an avid Catskill angler, contributed a Preface. Francis wrote a new Introduction, which appears in the pages after his original Introduction. The last chapter, "Catskill Rivers Today," is extensively rewritten. the original chapter listed conservation organizations and fishing businesses. Francis updated these lists and also added an extensive list of licensed fishing guides in the Catskills. This chapter includes new essays by four noted Catskill guides on "how our rivers fish." Ed Ostapczuk, Judd Weisberg, Dick Smith, and Walt Ackerman consider, respectively, changes and constants on the Esopus, Schoharie, Beaverkill and Willowemoc, and the Delaware and its branches.

"New and returning Catskill anglers will find something helpful in this third edition of Catskill Rivers. If you can't travel to the Catskills to fish, reading Francis's book is one of the next best things to being there!" --
Kaatskill Life, Spring 2015.