Bookshelf: Fishing for God—and Vice Versa

by
posted on February 4, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
fishing_for_god_f.jpg

I’ve set many hooks; I’ve fly-fished in beautiful places; I even own a nice fly rod, which I’ve never actually used; but I’m no fisherman. I wanted a copy of Bill Rooney’s book, Fishing For God—and Vice Versa, to review because he’s a former Managing Editor of American Hunter, and even today contributes fine prose to this magazine. So I am obliged to him and to readers. Besides, despite the title the book promises hunting tales.

When I cracked open the book, one of the first things I read was: “Why, in a variety of special spots … why do I feel so … utterly peaceful? So apart and yet so much a part of everything that’s important in life? So totally … loved?” I was sitting in a Blue Ridge treestand on a Sunday morning. Water, woods—no matter the medium: Clearly, a fisher like Rooney who finds his connection to God in piscatorial pursuit has much to say to hunters.

Many Christians will recognize this book as Rooney’s “witness”: his testimony of God’s deliverance of a life full of love and lovely things found in places He created. But it’s more than that. It’s a wonderful collection of adventurous tales that inspire thought regarding our pursuit of peace in the wild world.

Throughout the work, Rooney’s prose is on full display, in places like Chapter 5, “Hunting For God,” when he describes finding a fine perch in the deer woods and how, when “the celestial show in the west began to fade,” he shifted his weight so he could “drink in dawn’s mauve and blue and yellow and cerise.” Such thoughts cannot be conjured in a vacuum. They must be absorbed in the sanctuary of the natural world so they may be penned later, and remembered forever. Another hunting season has closed. Maybe it’s time I broke out my fly rod.

Latest

44 Mag HST LEDE
44 Mag HST LEDE

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.