Trout Tales and Salmon Stories

Glynn A. Leyshon is a professor of physical education at the University
of Western Ontario, a former weekly columnist for the London Free Press,
and author of 18 Sporting Stories.

Unlike many fly fishers who sneer at those who would desecrate the
hallowed sanctum of the sport by using worms as bait, Bill Macdonald
simply fishes in all manner of ways. He has done it across Canada in
both oceans and in virtually every province. More than five decades of
experiences provide the background for the short articles Macdonald has
published in several outdoor journals; the best of these pieces have
been selected for this book.

Whether writing on conservation of resources, catch-and-release
fishing, bar angling (sandbar, that is) with worms and roe, spinning rod
as opposed to bait-casting, or simply displaying various bait hook
knots, Macdonald is a convincing advocate of Issac Walton’s pleasures.
One could be convinced that fishing is the sport of kings after reading
Macdonald’s description of taking a steelhead on a fly.

The fact that most of these short articles appeared in the 1950s shows
that the subject and treatment are timeless, and that the author was
ahead of his time (especially in regard to his stand on conservation of
forests, the destruction of which leads directly to loss of fish
habitat). For the uninitiated, the technical jargon—e.g., “gut
tippets of silkworm gut in 3x, 4x and 5x leader diameters blood knotted
to nylon”—may be a bit esoteric, or even excessive, but Macdonald
seems to bring it off in a very natural way. He also provides guides and
minimanuals for types of lines, types of flies, types of leaders and
footwear, removing misplaced hooks, and cooking the catch.