This is a facinating read. I don't
expect to ever be able to fish in Russia, yet I've seen the
articles and the photos of wonderful Salmon too.
Reeling in Russia is most
likely as close as I've ever get. But the idea certainly is
intriguing. The author, Fen Montaignehen did have
abnormally unusual assess to Russia. His many years
as a former Moscow correspondent who speaks fluent
Russian, not doubt opened doors others could not.
I asked our friend Brad Buehrer who
was Manager of the Umba River Lodge on the Kola Penninsula
in the former Soviet Union, for his impressions of
Reeling in Russia.
"Fen Montaigne understands Russia as
well as any Westerner can. His book, Reeling in Russia
is right on the mark."
"I speak from experience, having managed
a salmon fishing camp, The Umba River Lodge, on the Kola
Peninsula, for three years."
"The author's love of the country and it's
people leaps right off the page at you. Even with its enormous
problems, Russia is still a place of beauty and bountiful natural
resources."
"Traveling and fishing about Russia as Fen
Montaigne did is not an option for most of us. As he explains it
is very frustrating and can be very dangerious.
"Hopefully you will get to experience Russia
some day, but if not, this book is the next best way." ~ Brad Buehrer
The actual fishing trip lasted a
hundred days, and took the author on a seven-
thousand-mile overland journey. He fished for Atlantic
Salmon on the Kola Peninsula, pike on the Volga River,
taimen in Suberia, and artic grayling and char in the
Russian Far East. He didn't always catch fish. But it
is a humorous and very moving account of the Russia that
exists today.
Reeling in Russia is hardbound,
275 pages, without photos (you can only imagine what other
dire problems would have happened if the author had tried.)
It is elegantly written, and left me wishing I had been there
with him. It sells for $24.95, ISBN: 0-312-18595-2. ~ DB
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