Angling Sketches

A witty, self‑deprecating narrator guides us through the quirks of a lifelong, if hapless, angler. He confesses his clumsy habits—mis‑tied knots, misplaced flies, and an aversion to nets—while offering a warm, honest glimpse of the simple pleasures and frustrations that come with every cast. The tone is gently humorous, rooted in the countryside of the late‑19th century, and the prose captures both the scenic beauty of rivers and the comic mishaps of a true “duffer.”

The collection gathers a dozen vivid sketches, from nostalgic reminiscences of a border childhood to lively episodes on the Scottish lochs of Awe and Leven. Each story is a snapshot of fishing life: a baffling encounter with a “bloody doctor,” a playful rivalry over a prized salmon, and a far‑cical “double alibi” that reveals the social circles surrounding the sport. Together they form a charming portrait of an era when fishing was as much about character and camaraderie as it was about the catch.