Michigan Trout Unlimited
MICHIGAN Trout
Book Reviews
18
by Glen R. Blackwood, Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company
Spring 2022
Two titles have drifted across my reading desk recently. While these books have entirely different focuses, both are based upon observational awareness of the natural world. These authors, one making his debut (Jac Ford) and the other award-winning (Jerry Dennis), have shared their observations in a fashion that the reader will benefit from, whether fly fishing from a drift boat or simply reading for pleasure. The View from the Middle Seat Jac Ford describes himself as a “guide” throughout his new book, The View from the Middle Seat. Many other terms come to mind as you read his recently released work. For me, most have an educational slant. “Mentor,” “teacher,” and “instructor” are all apt, only I prefer “coach,” and this work is his personal playbook to angling success, which he has graciously shared. To say that Jac is just a guide is like saying Sparky Anderson was just a baseball manager. Just as Sparky was a student of the game with the Big Red Machine and the Detroit Tigers on the baseball diamond, Jac is a student of fly fishing. His success is achieved through observing, prioritizing fundamentals, and a lifetime of in-game adjustments, albeit on a different playing field than Tiger Stadium. This is Jac’s first book, but his reputation as an angler and guide is far-reaching, as is apparent by the book’s forward written by George Daniels and the dust jacket’s reviews from Kevin Feenstra, Kelly Galloup, Joe Humphries, and Mike Schmidt. Jac was an angler before his second career as a fly fishing outfitter and guide in Michigan and Montana. His early experiences of Michigan angling and western spring creeks and the skill set that these waters require honed his current observational and detailed approach to trophy fish angling, as the book contains chapters on warm water species as well, such as smallmouth bass, northern pike, and muskies. Jac mentions that he pondered a book on spring creek fishing; I hope that will be his next project. Jac’s voice, both in person and in his writing, is one of
quiet confidence. His words are poignant and are chosen for his meaning. While I would categorize this title as a technical fly fishing book, the text flows more like a boat launch conversation. Throughout, he regales stories from past trips and clients. These tales are written as if parables to teach a specific lesson. The words are not preachy, only steadfastly describe the author’s viewpoint: a point of view that is not cemented in angling past but has developed over time and continues with each day he spends in the middle seat, an example being his use of modern technology as it relates to weather. As a rule, I do not carry a smartphone with me when fishing. Jac uses his as a tool to watch the weather as an indicator of “bite windows.” Another example of the author’s stepping into the future is the book’s collections of fly patterns from modern innovative fly tyers he follows both in-person and online. Yet, at the same time, Jac pays homage to the past with a discussion of lessons learned from the likes of Will Godfry, Joe Humphries, and Bob Linsenman. I found this blend of old school versus new school refreshing and enjoyable. In a world where self-published books are becoming the norm, and quality production seems a bye-gone attribute, this title is well designed and professionally crafted. Printed in the United States, the resolution of the book’s images are crisp and add to the reader’s overall pleasure, as do the original paintings that illustrate the book’s pages by talented sporting artist David Ruimveld. David utilized watercolor techniques and paper with black paint to achieve a unique washed tone that my eye found appealing. While the book’s theme regards the pursuit of trophy fish on a fly rod, the underlying theme throughout is conservation. The author brings his conservation message to the forefront in a sound and respectful fashion. It is subtle at times and louder in the afterword. His sentiments ring true and should be read and pondered by all. Reading and rereading Jac Ford’s manuscript in preparation for this review sent me back to my formative fly fishing years. My grandfather and other fly fishing mentors taught me not only the fundamentals of casting
