Nick Lyons’s first fishing book, The Seasonable Angler, is the story of a fisherman’s year, from the projects and fantasies of an angler’s winter through the thrill of a June evening’s rise on the Beaverkill, and on to the pleasures and melancholia of autumn trout fishing.

In a book of spirited contrasts, Nick Lyons recounts hilarious misadventures on opening day and on family trips, as well as quiet moments when the fisherman becomes contemplative and close to nature. Lyons captures the excitement of catching a first trout—and the sadness of having killed, at times, too many fish. There is an increasing respect for the natural world, for conservation, and for the spirit of the sport.

Throughout The Seasonable Angler, Lyons evokes the humor and lore of a man who has loved fishing deeply since early childhood. His book is not only for avid fishermen, but also for everyone who appreciates fine writing about nature and who wants to understand what animates that strong clan of people who fish.