The Wisdom of Rivers

A collection of fishing stories that connect us to life’s deeper waters

Experienced storyteller Roger W. Thompson cast his first line when he was a child, as a way to connect with his troubled father. Time after time in the decades since, he’s returned to tying and tossing flies in order to grieve loss, build friendships, and eventually, to connect with his own children. From sepia-toned memories in the Eastern Sierra Nevada to humorous misadventures along New England streams, Thompson invites readers to discover the many ways that life unfolds on the water.

While the stories all capture the thrill and artistry of fly fishing, the heart of The Wisdom of Rivers lies in the relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and community that Thompson navigates along the way, and the ways in which fly fishing helps his search for authentic connections and spiritual insights. He writes like an old friend standing alongside you knee-deep in the water, noticing the glittering nuggets hidden in wild places.