I idolized Henry Winkler as the Fonz. I quoted him continuously in his role as Barry Zuckerkorn, legal counsel to the Bluth Family in my favorite television show of all time, Arrested Development.
His new book I’ve Never Met an Idiot on the River, continues his legacy of making me smile. Written in a casual style, as if you are enjoying a conversation over beers with Henry, he discusses his passion of fly fishing and the role it plays as a long-anticipated escape from his daily life in Hollywood.
His passion often crosses the line into obsession, with the details of the meticulous notes he takes on each fish caught, including weight, length and a trophy photo (sometimes up to 60 trout in a day!!). This is reminiscent of my Grandfather who kept journals of his family’s camping trips, where my Dad was labeled “personnel”, and he redrew topographic maps by hand.
If you are an avid fly fisherman, you can not only relate to Winkler’s addiction, but you’ll thoroughly enjoy his manic compulsion with all things fishing. I hope to run into Mr. Winkler on the river one day and have a moment sharing our common infatuation.
