Author Event: River Songs: Moments of Wild Wonder in Fly Fishing by Steve Duda

Join Steve Duda, Head of Fish Tales at Patagonia, to discuss his book, River Songs, a thought-provoking collection of stories from the life of a rock-and-roll fly fisher.

River Songs is rich with bracing, authentic, generous stories—writing that revels in language and spirit. Avoiding most of fly fishing’s clichés—the romantic elegies, the Moby-Dick-like conquests, the play-by-play detailing a “victory” over a fish—Steve Duda instead offers pieces that breathe lived experience, reveal vulnerabilities, and convey a broad perspective of what it means to have “a long run with a tight crew.” Duda is interested in what has been learned out there on the river: what is it about this “ridiculous activity” that connects us to this planet, makes us human, gives us hope?

River Songs focuses on the in-between moments and the unexpected revelations—awe, fear, frustration, doubt, joy—that are as much a part of fishing as tying knots and chucking flies. Readers ride along with Duda in battered pickup trucks, fish “between jobs,” look longingly at unfished famous rivers while touring with a country-punk band, and wonder how a fishing trip led to getting a tooth pulled while being surrounded by trash-talking friends. They will find beauty, discovery, heartbreak, good dogs, and the wonder of nature within the expanse of Northwest landscapes and beyond.

Steve Duda is a writer, editor, and producer whose work in film, magazines, books, and live appearances has shaped the voice of fly fishing for over three decades. He is the former editor of The Flyfish Journal and a founding editor at Boise Weekly. Steve’s cultural writing has been featured in Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, Seattle Weekly, MTV, San Francisco Bay Guardian, The Fretboard Journal, and many others. Currently, Steve is Head of Fish Tales at Patagonia, guiding the brand’s fly fish activism and storytelling through film, video, web, social media, and more. He lives in Seattle with his partner and a semi-feral feline/raccoon hybrid.

Since 1985, WaterWatch of Oregon has pursued a single clear mission: To protect and restore flows in our rivers to sustain the native fish, wildlife, and the people who depend on healthy rivers. WaterWatch was the first organization in the West to seek structural reform of antiquated water laws to protect and restore our rivers.