Page after page, story after story, this book will leave you rolling on the floor laughing and coming back for more. I love how the stories are short, where you can grab a cup of morning coffee and read a story (chapter) or two to start the day. In A Reel Job the author, Ryan Johnston, shared firsthand, real life stories that he has collected in his years as a guide.
On a recent trip to Iceland, I brought the book along for some airplane reading. When I got to the lodge, I popped it on the coffee table and started telling my friend and guide, Daniel, of Iceland Fishing Guide about the book. He quickly grabbed it, started to read, and I said, “Well you need to start with this story,” and pointed him to one of the early chapters, “Monster Brown Trout.” I knew how the story built on itself like an orchestra of notes that ends in a crescendo of laughter that you literally have to pick yourself off the floor from. As great as the story was for me to read initially, I had the same enjoyment watching Daniel’s face as the smirks and smiles, led to facial and verbal gestures and finally an outburst of disbelief and laughter. When the rest of the crew got back from their day on the water and saw the book, Daniel quickly exclaimed, “Guys, you have to read this story!”
That’s just one of the twenty chapters in this enjoyable read.
Let me ask you this question, do you know someone with Big Fish Mojo? They may or may not be the best fisherman. They may or may not catch the most fish. But, for some reason, they always seem to catch the biggest fish. A Reel Job will explain why.
Some of my greatest memories are being on the river, and often, they have been with a guide. Some of the greatest friends to this day started out as my fly fishing guides. Fly fishing can be viewed as solving a complex problem while having a whole lot of fun. It’s easy for a bond to build with your guide as he or she is helping you solve that problem while enhancing all that fun.
See our vlog with Sindri of Fish Partner here. And, check out our profile of one of my closest friends Francois Boulet of Montreal here.
As I read this book, it made me think back to my times on the water with both my friends and guides. I realize that these relationships and their stories are a big part of my passion for fly fishing. I felt like I was along for the ride on these adventures. I felt like I was with Ryan in the boat, fishing along and he was telling these stories directly to me.
It made me think about another Ryan, Ryan Anderson of Wyoming Fly Fishing, another legendary storyteller. He had me in stitches my entire trip down the North Platte. There is something about being a guide and a great storyteller that go hand in hand. When you combine both these skills, it makes for a great day on the water. I highly recommend A Reel Job as I am more than confident it will not only be a joy to read will also bring a smile to your face. These truly (LOL) laugh out loud pages will be a great break in the day and a fun keepsake on your bookshelf.
From the author Ryan Johnson:
The river is full of surprises. There are certain things I can anticipate on any given day—the flow, the tides, the weather—but each day spent guiding is a fresh story waiting to be written. Some days are normal and uneventful short stories, some are long-winded novels of struggle and victory, and others are biographies of the people I encounter. In my opinion, the true story of our lives is told through the day-to-day. We tend to focus on the large, life-changing events—and, yes, those tend to be exciting and oftentimes insightful—but true life is what happens from one day to the next as we wander down our life’s path. The decisions we make, the things we see, the people we love, the religion we believe in, and the work we do are the things that define us. As we look back through our careers, we all recall moments in the workplace that made us laugh, made us angry, brought sadness, and created feelings of joy. Through the writing of this book, I’ve been able to reflect on the countless river stories that I have experienced. Stories of big fish caught, bigger fish lost, memorable clients, threats from wildlife encountered on the river, and just plain old funny situations shared with complete strangers. These stories that you are about to read are but a taste of the sights and sounds that the river has provided my clients and me over the last 20 years. So go grab a cold drink and find a comfy chair. My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading these tales as much as I’ve enjoyed living them.
Purchase your copy of A Reel Job on Amazon.
