Wildlife Vol 1 was originally
published as weekly columns
in a newspaper (The Sequim
Gazette) that prefers not to be
identified for reasons that will
become apparent once you
read them.
Includes, Wally the Weasel,
Canoeing the Dungeness, The
Horse Whimperer, Saturday
Night in the Fifth Reich and
more.
Published by iUniverse.com
price $9.99
published as weekly columns
in a newspaper (The Sequim
Gazette) that prefers not to be
identified for reasons that will
become apparent once you
read them.
Includes, Wally the Weasel,
Canoeing the Dungeness, The
Horse Whimperer, Saturday
Night in the Fifth Reich and
more.
Published by iUniverse.com
price $9.99
| Books by Pat Neal |
 | |  | |  | |  |
The stories in The
Fisherman's Prayer were
originally published as
weekly columns in The
Peninsula Daily News.
Includes, The
Fisherman's Prayer.
Developed from The
Lord's Prayer, given to
us by Jesus almost 2000
years ago, The
Fisherman's Prayer has
been adapted for today's
tough fishing conditions.
Guide tested, fish
approved, do not go
fishing without a prayer.
Published by
iUniverse.com
Hardcover, 22.95
Paperback 12.95
Fisherman's Prayer were
originally published as
weekly columns in The
Peninsula Daily News.
Includes, The
Fisherman's Prayer.
Developed from The
Lord's Prayer, given to
us by Jesus almost 2000
years ago, The
Fisherman's Prayer has
been adapted for today's
tough fishing conditions.
Guide tested, fish
approved, do not go
fishing without a prayer.
Published by
iUniverse.com
Hardcover, 22.95
Paperback 12.95
Pat Neal books and cards are
available in Port Angeles at
Jim's Pharmacy and Port Book
and News, and in Forks at
Fork's Outfitters, Chinook
Pharmacy and A Work In
Progress/Cafe Paix
available in Port Angeles at
Jim's Pharmacy and Port Book
and News, and in Forks at
Fork's Outfitters, Chinook
Pharmacy and A Work In
Progress/Cafe Paix
From The Reel News December 2007
Reel Books in Review…Terry W. Sheely.
Painted with a single curving pen stroke the symbolic Christian fish is an icon on
license plate frames, bumper stickers, ant-Darwinism and now performs as an
over lay on the fish scales that cover Pat Neal’s
new book, “The Fisherman’s Prayer.”
The fish icon is a good fit for this cover although to accurately reflect the content I
would have considered adding a winking eye or amusing grin to the fish face. Be
assured, there is no trace of sacrilege hiding between the lines or lurking in
entendres, but there is a refreshing gust of reality and pragmatics, roadside litter
and angling foibles.
Neal’s mossy muse, intriguing insight, river level perspective and been-there-
done-that-and-somehow survived brand of humor is a rare blend. It imparts a
flavor of common sense, thoughtfulness, quiet chuckles and entertainment while
delivering an appreciation for life, for fishing and for the Olympic Peninsula.
Neal is a Peninsula fishing guide. A drift boater. A writer. A newspaper columnist
for the Peninsula Daily News and now a poet.
The Fisherman’s Prayer is chanted in the wordsmith rhythm of the Lord’s Prayer,
but reformulated for “today’s modern fishing conditions” and is not limited to the
water. The Fisherman’s Prayer works on all species of fresh and saltwater game
fish. “Don’t go fishing without a prayer” warns the book jacket blurb.
At the risk of giving away the plotline, I’ll take the liberty of printing the prayer,
and hope that it doesn’t discourage anyone from buying the book.
The Fisherman’s Prayer
“Our Father, above the water,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy rains will come. Thy rivers run on Earth
As they do in heaven.
Give us this day our daily fish and
Forgive our excess limit.
As we forgive those who set the limit.
Lead us not into rough water.
Deliver us at the end of season.
For thine is the river
And the ocean
And the Glory
Forever and ever, Amen.
The 21 stories that come alive in this slim volume were first published in various
Washington newspapers. The photos, prayers and poetry came later, I suspect.
This is Neal’s second book. “Wildlife” was released a few years ago to what
acclaim I don’t know. I do know that my copy shares a shelf with Richard
Brautigan’s “Trout Fishing in America“, (which we all know is not about trout
fishing and barely about America), Aldo Leopold’s “Sand County Almanac” (
which is about everything of real importance), six books of Roderick Haig-Brown
and John Geirach’s “Another Lousy Day in Paradise”
Reel Books in Review…Terry W. Sheely.
Painted with a single curving pen stroke the symbolic Christian fish is an icon on
license plate frames, bumper stickers, ant-Darwinism and now performs as an
over lay on the fish scales that cover Pat Neal’s
new book, “The Fisherman’s Prayer.”
The fish icon is a good fit for this cover although to accurately reflect the content I
would have considered adding a winking eye or amusing grin to the fish face. Be
assured, there is no trace of sacrilege hiding between the lines or lurking in
entendres, but there is a refreshing gust of reality and pragmatics, roadside litter
and angling foibles.
Neal’s mossy muse, intriguing insight, river level perspective and been-there-
done-that-and-somehow survived brand of humor is a rare blend. It imparts a
flavor of common sense, thoughtfulness, quiet chuckles and entertainment while
delivering an appreciation for life, for fishing and for the Olympic Peninsula.
Neal is a Peninsula fishing guide. A drift boater. A writer. A newspaper columnist
for the Peninsula Daily News and now a poet.
The Fisherman’s Prayer is chanted in the wordsmith rhythm of the Lord’s Prayer,
but reformulated for “today’s modern fishing conditions” and is not limited to the
water. The Fisherman’s Prayer works on all species of fresh and saltwater game
fish. “Don’t go fishing without a prayer” warns the book jacket blurb.
At the risk of giving away the plotline, I’ll take the liberty of printing the prayer,
and hope that it doesn’t discourage anyone from buying the book.
The Fisherman’s Prayer
“Our Father, above the water,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy rains will come. Thy rivers run on Earth
As they do in heaven.
Give us this day our daily fish and
Forgive our excess limit.
As we forgive those who set the limit.
Lead us not into rough water.
Deliver us at the end of season.
For thine is the river
And the ocean
And the Glory
Forever and ever, Amen.
The 21 stories that come alive in this slim volume were first published in various
Washington newspapers. The photos, prayers and poetry came later, I suspect.
This is Neal’s second book. “Wildlife” was released a few years ago to what
acclaim I don’t know. I do know that my copy shares a shelf with Richard
Brautigan’s “Trout Fishing in America“, (which we all know is not about trout
fishing and barely about America), Aldo Leopold’s “Sand County Almanac” (
which is about everything of real importance), six books of Roderick Haig-Brown
and John Geirach’s “Another Lousy Day in Paradise”
These are all creative, reflective books packed with buckshot wisdom.
Powerful thoughts that dilute and scatter the further they travel downrange,
but that no matter how widely patterned are each one capable of delivering
a good sting, rousing reaction and provoking thought.
I rarely quote more than a line or two of a book usually to present the
writing style and skill of the author. I think, however, that several snippets
of Pat Neal are called for to get a somewhat accurate line on his thought
process, his agenda and his insight.
See what you think.
“Albacore have never been more abundant. Maybe it’s just a coincidence
but they are not currently being managed by the State of Washington.”
“LaPush used to be the best salmon fishing hole in Washington. With the
miracle of salmon mismanagement and global warming it has been
transformed into tuna town.”
“We notice spoor along the river’s edge. Donut boxes, coffee cups, and
snoose cans that tell the old guide it’s a morning bite in this hole. If there
had been a mess of beer cans on the beach you’d know it was a night
fishing hole. This is what we call matching the hatch.”
“Creek fishing in the Olympics is a form of mountain climbing where you
carry a fishing pole instead of a rope.”
“These massive runs of fish swam up the Dungeness almost all year-round.
Far up into the mountains where they fed people, animals and birds, they
spawned and died and their carcasses washed back down fertilizing the
river, the forests and the bay in a life cycle we destroyed before we even
understood it.”
“It’s like we say on the river: the worse fishing gets the more you need a
guide.”
“I remember one client asked me to make him a sandwich. I told him, we’re
not married, so you can’t talk to me that way. Besides, I’m the one rigging
up rotten globs of fish eggs, shrimp and herring all day. Do you really want
me anywhere near your food?”
“I think it was the famous French philosopher What’s His Name, who said, ’
Hell is other fishermen.’ With the population ballooning out of control, there
are bound to be more and more fishermen clogging up our rivers. All of
these fishermen have one thing in common: They come to the Olympic
Peninsula seeking solitude.”
“Since becoming a fishing guide, people have been constantly asking me
how much it costs to go fishing. So far, fishing has cost me everything.”
“Fishing may not be a matter of life and death. Maybe it’s much more
important than that.”
Powerful thoughts that dilute and scatter the further they travel downrange,
but that no matter how widely patterned are each one capable of delivering
a good sting, rousing reaction and provoking thought.
I rarely quote more than a line or two of a book usually to present the
writing style and skill of the author. I think, however, that several snippets
of Pat Neal are called for to get a somewhat accurate line on his thought
process, his agenda and his insight.
See what you think.
“Albacore have never been more abundant. Maybe it’s just a coincidence
but they are not currently being managed by the State of Washington.”
“LaPush used to be the best salmon fishing hole in Washington. With the
miracle of salmon mismanagement and global warming it has been
transformed into tuna town.”
“We notice spoor along the river’s edge. Donut boxes, coffee cups, and
snoose cans that tell the old guide it’s a morning bite in this hole. If there
had been a mess of beer cans on the beach you’d know it was a night
fishing hole. This is what we call matching the hatch.”
“Creek fishing in the Olympics is a form of mountain climbing where you
carry a fishing pole instead of a rope.”
“These massive runs of fish swam up the Dungeness almost all year-round.
Far up into the mountains where they fed people, animals and birds, they
spawned and died and their carcasses washed back down fertilizing the
river, the forests and the bay in a life cycle we destroyed before we even
understood it.”
“It’s like we say on the river: the worse fishing gets the more you need a
guide.”
“I remember one client asked me to make him a sandwich. I told him, we’re
not married, so you can’t talk to me that way. Besides, I’m the one rigging
up rotten globs of fish eggs, shrimp and herring all day. Do you really want
me anywhere near your food?”
“I think it was the famous French philosopher What’s His Name, who said, ’
Hell is other fishermen.’ With the population ballooning out of control, there
are bound to be more and more fishermen clogging up our rivers. All of
these fishermen have one thing in common: They come to the Olympic
Peninsula seeking solitude.”
“Since becoming a fishing guide, people have been constantly asking me
how much it costs to go fishing. So far, fishing has cost me everything.”
“Fishing may not be a matter of life and death. Maybe it’s much more
important than that.”