Shiny and Shiness

A scarce and highly collectible piece of early South African fly fishing literature, this book occupies a unique place in the history of trout fishing in this country. Set against the backdrop of the famous Eerste River, it blends fiction with a remarkable foundation of observation, experience and natural history gathered over more than four decades on the water. The author describes the work as "a story built on accepted facts, proven facts and countless hours spent studying trout and their environment". Having caught more than 10,000 trout from the Eerste and examined the scales, stomach contents and condition of thousands more, Kingfisher brought an intimate understanding of trout behaviour that few anglers could ever hope to match. The result is a book that is part story, part trout lore and part record of a fishery from another era. Beyond its angling content, the book offers a fascinating glimpse into the early development of South African trout fishing and the observations of one of its dedicated pioneers. For collectors, it represents the kind of regional angling title that seldom appears on the market and becomes increasingly difficult to replace once gone. Illustrated throughout with distinctive black-and-white linocut artwork, this charming vintage volume deserves a place in any serious South African angling library. Good, sturdy vintage condition. Hardcover. 24cm x 16cm. 92 pages.