Dry Flies & Wet Socks

With FlyLife #123 relegated to the bookshelf and heavy falling rain outside, it was time to relax. What to do? A good read would be perfect, but maybe not fishing related? On second thoughts, a copy of Robin Coupland’s recent book was at hand and I had intended to review it for the mag. Dry Flies & Wet Socks is a catchy title — we can all relate to that — and with a chapter headed ‘Fizzing at the bung’, it had to be good. Right?

I jumped right in and didn’t let go. From the peaty hill lochs of Sutherland in Scotland to the idyllic backcountry streams of New Zealand’s South Island, it had me quite enthralled. Full of practical advice about catching wild browns from a beginner’s perspective initially, though as the pages unfolded Coupland’s competency and sharp, analytical mind became more and more evident. This was no ordinary trout fishing book.

Seamlessly threaded through the pages are thoughts and observations relating to Coupland’s harrowing day job, as a field surgeon in armed conflicts. Can you imagine? We often pay lip service to the solace and mental healing afforded by fly fishing in wild places, but this was the real deal.

I particularly enjoyed the summary chapters towards the end of the book, especially the paragraphs relating to ‘truttitude’. What does it mean? I will leave you to ponder on that.

As a writer, editor and publisher I have read a lot of fly fishing stories over the years — usually in a rush between editing magazine content. This one was well written, made me smile, say ‘yeah’ at times, raise the odd eyebrow in surprise, and left me with plenty to think about.

Reading this book has made me appreciate just how privileged I’ve been to have fished, worked and lived down here in Tasmania — wild trout at every turn, and far removed from the grim realities of armed conflict.

Available on Amazon print & Kindle.