Passion for pike - by Ad Swier

I’ve been meaning to write this review for some time now as its well overdue so here goes All of you from the States and Canada that fly-fish for pike should be familiar with Barry Reynolds and his videos & books but many of you might not have heard of a gentleman called Ad Swier from the Netherlands and his book “Passion for Pike”, which is generally classed by most European pike fly-fisherman as the bible here.

Although there are some,……“Passion for pike” isn’t a book filled with tips & techniques or where to and when to fish for pike or even fly tying tutorials, but more of a mans journey into why Ad loves fly-fishing for this fantastic predator. And that’s what sets this book apart from the rest of the other pike on the fly literature out there. Sure he goes through all the tackle that’s needed from its inception to present day, tells about pike on the fly in other European countries, and writes about his strong feelings for Pike and their conservation but reading this book you truly do get a sense of what its like to target Esox luscious on the fly. This passion is also evident as well through his art, which I might add, grace many of the pages in this book through wonderful prints dotted around it.

Whether you’re a pike on the fly fanatic or just contemplating starting up in the sport and you haven’t read this book yet then I suggest you order it off the internet. Mark my words, It’s a fantastic read. With all the literature in our house I’m constantly asked by Lena, “Your not reading that book again, are you?

I’ll leave you with a small snippet from the book

“Now my Dad always taught me to be silent in Nature. He used to say “ You’re a guest here, so shut up and behave”, He used to recite a variation on something I also heard the other year during a long steep walk in the Comeragh mountains in Ireland. My guide Michael Desmond, then said, quietly: “Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints, Kill nothing but time”.