Page 12 - Mighty Miramichi 2018 River Guide

Bryant Freeman

All Things Fishing

Book Review by James M. Fisher

Miramichi author However, once he reached Boiestown, he realized he did
Doug Underhill and not know the river above that point, and he needed someone
Nimbus Publishing have with him who did. As well, his wife was worried about him
truly done the Atlantic travelling alone.
salmon sportfishing "I needed someone with me who knew the river and was
industry a service by crazy enough to pole up the river with me," says Gillespie.
bringing the story of Bryant Freeman to bookshelves. A quiet, Enter sixty-eight-year-old Bryant Freeman.
unassuming man, Mr. Freeman is well-known and loved by The story continues as they leisurely make their way
many who fish the Miramichi River and its tributaries. He is upriver, stopping to talk with folks along the way and
also well-known for his Riverview, New Brunswick fly-tying recording their travels. It's a very charming and interesting
shop Eskape Anglers where, among other things, he sells his voyage to read about.
famous "Carter's Bug" salmon fly. Bryant Freeman: All Things Fishing contains black and
However, Mr. Underhill's book is not just a biography of white as well as colour photographs; particularly beautiful
Bryant Freeman, although it does trace his life from his are the ones of flies he has tied and those of him fishing and
childhood in Nova Scotia to his present home in New canoeing on the river. This is a book that sports fishermen
Brunswick, but we also learn about fly-tying, the changes to (and women too, whom Bryant encourages to get involved
the salmon sportfishing industry over the decades and Mr. in the sport) and all outdoor adventurers will welcome.
Freeman's role in speaking out on the need for conservation Doug Underhill is a sports/outdoors journalist and was
and more catch-and-release measures so present stocks of inducted into the Atlantic Salmon Hall of Fame and
salmon can thrive for future generations of salmon fishers. Miramichi Sports Wall of Fame. He lives writes in
A particularly interesting part of the book was a canoe Miramichi, New Brunswick. Bryant Freeman is his thirteenth
poling trip up the Miramichi undertaken by Mr. Freeman and book. His website: www.dougunderhill.com
Dewey Gillespie (another Atlantic Salmon Hall of Famer) in
2009. Dewey set out alone starting at Chatham and making James M. Fisher is a Miramichi resident who enjoys reading and
it as far as Boiestown, which he estimates took about forty reviewing books both local and international. You can read more
hours: book reviews and author interviews on his site,
www.miramichireader.ca

12 Mighty Miramichi River Guide 2018/2019 | www.riverguide.ca