Book Summary
“Trout Boomer” – The making of a fly fisher and his love affair with the Little Juniata River – Bill Anderson
In this two part book, a retired executive relates with short, often humorous tales of his boyhood, how he became a fly fisherman and the defender of the Little Juniata River in Central Pennsylvania. The “Trout Boomer”, son of a WWII sergeant and a country girl from Arkansas, brings us back to our youth as he tells of BB guns, hand lines, catching carp, a rooster named “Buster”, and early fishing adventures. Readers, especially fellow Boomers, will relate to little Billy as he negotiates his way through a succession of city neighborhoods, trades a Louisville Slugger for his first fly rod, and finds fishing in the Brandywine River as his refuge from city streets.
In part II, Bill shares his intimate knowledge of the history, the watershed, and the fly hatches of the “j” (Little Juniata). Having had a successful career in industry, Bill retired to open a fly shop; became president of the Little Juniata River Association and, now, dedicates his time to fly fishing and defending this wonderful and frequently overlooked eastern, brown trout stream. With more than 35 years living near and fishing the “j”, Bill has developed his own unique fly patterns and fishing techniques for this small river. He shares these in graphic color detail.
The “j” has 14 miles of Catch and Release water and another 16 miles that deserve special regulations (Bill’s working on it). The river flows from the city of Altoona and, unlike most trout streams, gets colder and better as it grows bigger. The reason for the coldness lies in the large limestone springs that enter the flow, as the stream turns East in the small mountain town of Tyrone. Bill knows the “j” like no one else. He has waded, fished and fallen into every part of it for almost four decades.
While Trout Boomer is a “must have” for any fly fisher who fishes, or plans to fish, the Little Juniata, it is much more than a “where to, how to” fishing book. Bill provides insights into why many of us are passionate about fly fishing and gives us a good natured glimpse into the life of a boy growing up in post- war America.
order at : Troutboomer.com