John Gierach, a native of Illinois and American author and freelance writer passed away on October 4 following a severe heart attack. 1946 saw the birth of him in Illinois. Gierach graduated from Findlay College in Ohio with a degree in philosophy and a minor in English. Working at a silver mine in Colorado, he began fishing nearly every day after moving there in 1969.
A brilliant mind has been lost to America and the world at large; this loss will never be forgotten. His family will make an announcement later today regarding his funeral service and obituary.
After coming to Colorado, he started writing more routinely. Books by him are based on his many worldwide fly-fishing trips, some of which he does with his friend A.K. Best (who Gierach affectionately refers to as the “dryflyguru” due to Best’s love of dry flies). His works include The View from Rat Lake, Even Brook Trout Get the Blues, and the cult classic Trout Bum, which coined the phrase “trout bum.” Gierach has penned two poetry books and is a poet as well.
