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Published by UNM Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
A heartfelt look at the state of modern fly-fishing and the challenges fishers will face in the coming decades.
Ron Dungan, like many fly-fishers, can be obsessive. Although decades of fishing trips have led him to encounter snakes, bears, and treacherous terrain, his main focus is always the fish—how to find them, how to outsmart them, and how to hook them.
In twenty-seven essays, Dungan takes us on a journey down bad roads and backcountry streams. Each tells a tale about fishing but also about hunting dogs, death, public-land policy, the trap of materialism, and accelerating environmental damage. This last becomes a new obsession. Fly-fishing in the arid Southwest has always been precarious, but how has fly-fishing changed, and what further impacts will climate change and resource extraction have? With his dog curled at his feet, Dungan attempts to unravel the tangled line of these hard questions.
Ron Dungan, like many fly-fishers, can be obsessive. Although decades of fishing trips have led him to encounter snakes, bears, and treacherous terrain, his main focus is always the fish—how to find them, how to outsmart them, and how to hook them.
In twenty-seven essays, Dungan takes us on a journey down bad roads and backcountry streams. Each tells a tale about fishing but also about hunting dogs, death, public-land policy, the trap of materialism, and accelerating environmental damage. This last becomes a new obsession. Fly-fishing in the arid Southwest has always been precarious, but how has fly-fishing changed, and what further impacts will climate change and resource extraction have? With his dog curled at his feet, Dungan attempts to unravel the tangled line of these hard questions.
Product Details
- Publisher: UNM Press (March 17, 2026)
- Length: 176 pages
- ISBN13: 9780826369208
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Raves and Reviews
"For outdoor-and nature-enthusiast readers seeking (like Dungan) peace and quiet, this book of daydreams and ramblings is as soothing as an afternoon of fishing."
– Library Journal
"Evocative descriptions of nature abound, as of the splendor of changing seasons, bugling elk, moonlit trails, and the timing of mayfly and ant hatches... Advocating simple living and meditative time in nature, The Worst Fishing Dog Ever is a charming, insightful ode to the craft and appeal of fly-fishing."
– Kristen Rabe, Foreword Reviews
“Ron Dungan’s book is full of hard-earned, thoughtful, incisive insights. He understands and illuminates the personal, cultural, and environmental forces at play that surround our beloved sport of fly-fishing. This is a must-read book for anyone interested in why fly-fishing matters in these troubled times.”
– Robert DeMott, editor of Astream: American Writers on Fly Fishing
“Ron Dungan is an amazing writer, and if you don't buy this book you will probably be struck by lightning.”
– Cinda Howard, owner, guide, and instructor at Fly Fish Arizona and Beyond
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Book Cover Image (jpg): The Worst Fishing Dog Ever
Trade Paperback 9780826369208
