With physical books of all kinds becoming a threatened species, it’s really good to see local flyfishing books seem to be hanging in there, most recently with Ben Hohnke’s contribution, published in November 2025.
For the many of us who’ve come to flyfishing largely via the self-taught route, Hohnke’s journey will be relatable: bait fishing with dad as a small boy, then spin fishing, then a sort of back-and-forth transition to flyfishing, before it eventually becomes the main game.
In the background comes the glorious independence of a car and licence, impulsive trips where accommodation and catering take second place to the actual fishing, and where deep, dangerous gorges are no impediment to exploration.
Most of this (and Hohnke’s subsequent fishing) takes place along the trout streams of New England in northern NSW. While this area tends to be overshadowed by the Snowy/ Monaro, eastern Victoria and of course Tasmania, it is actually a wonderful fishery which deserves more coverage generally. I’ve fished there myself, and it was nice to be reminded of several named streams I’ve enjoyed, and some more anonymous waters, the identities of which I think I can guess.
As hinted at in the title, Hohnke’s carefree youth gradually incorporates the responsibilities of ‘grown-up’ life: marriage, kids and a proper job. But except for an ugly period of drought, fire and pandemic, his fishing continues, helped along by the fact his wife Sarah enjoys it too.
Towards the end of the book, things have almost come full circle, with Hohnke now the father taking his kids fishing, including the classic saltwater jetty fishing which many parents can no doubt recognise. (One delightful paragraph has the author dismissing his oldest son’s excitement and bent rod as a snag, only for it to turn into a 40cm-plus flathead!)
Well-presented with a glorious cover image, this book is a worthy addition to the Australian flyfishing library, and all the more significant for its positive New England focus.
RRP $34.95. Available now.
