Tight Lines and Tall Tales

Stories of Southern Appalachian Fly Fishing

Neil Norman, Ian Rutter

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN:
  9781469693323
• eBook ISBN:
  9781469687186
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Travel
• Index: Biological Sciences

Southern Appalachia has its own vibrant and dynamic fishing culture, distinct from other regions of the United States—one that combines the contemplative nature of fly fishing with a focus on Southern Appalachian ecology, folklore, and storytelling. For the first time, Neil Norman uncovers the hidden history of Southern Appalachian fly fishing that stretches back generations. Drawing on archival research, his own memories of fishing, and personally collected oral histories, Norman offers a fascinating history of the sport, beginning with Mark Cathey, a renowned North Carolinian angler active in the early twentieth century, and ending in the present day in the age of Trout Unlimited.

In recounting the history of Southern Appalachian fly fishing, Norman tells the story of the land itself—its streams, rivers, mountains, and valleys—while also challenging the idea that Southern Appalachia is an insular backwater or simply a tourist destination. He shows us that, as with any angling tradition, understanding where we are is key to understanding who we are.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Introduction. What We Carry to the Stream
• Chapter 1. Faces by the Creek
• Chapter 2. A Place for Our Own Stories
• Chapter 3. Of the Past and in the Present
• Chapter 4. The Subtle Art of Seeking and Finding
• Chapter 5. Casting About for Authenticity
• Chapter 6. What Counts at the Vise
• Chapter 7. The Fly’s Gambit
• Chapter 8. Guides at the Side
• Conclusion. Let Us Now Praise Little Fish
• Acknowledgments
• Appendix. Some Southern Appalachian Flies
• Bibliography