This book is a gem, it is written by the well known fly fishing author and illustrator Gunnar Johnson from Bodafors, Sweden in conjunction with Anders Forsling. Gunnar had a friendship with the late Pete Hidy and thereby a connection of sorts to Jim Leisenring. "Big Jim from Allentown as he was affectionately called. Gunnar tells the story of the soft hackle and it's transplantation over the Atlantic and to Leisenring and his disciple Hidy. Gunnar is a good storyteller although the book is somewhat short on the subject. This is in part due to the fact that it was written at a time in Sweden when the popularity of soft hackles were in it's infancy. The book was published by the Scandinavian fly fishing magazine "Flugfiske I Norden" of which Gunnar was editor in chief at the time of publication of this book in 1989.I read the book in one sitting, since it's only 128 pages but it is an entertaining read and it somehow makes you jealous if you are historically interested in the soft hackle evolution. It gives you a feeling of Wow, I wish I could have met Hidy. Leisenring et al. Highly recommended reading.
I'm now stuck on the Olympic ice hockey. Sweden playing Germany tonight in their first game of the Olympics.
