Fishing Through the Apocalypse

Intrepid, informed, warmly humorous and determined to catch, understand and save America’s fish, Miller gives us an original and desperately needed documentary. He exposes “trash fish” prejudices, fearlessly wades Miami sewer ditches, casts into the Potomac from the Capitol Mall, microfishes for shiners, and strives to save his home streams. This entertaining and edifying book extolls a conservation-minded angling obsession that just might get us through the apocalypse. – Henry Hughes, author of Back Seat with Fish: A Man’s Adventures in Angling and RomanceA brilliant, urgent dispatch from the tangled front lines between fishing and conservation. A very funny, sad, infuriating, and hopeful book written by someone who truly understands that the simple act of fishing is so much more complicated than merely catching a fish. – Stephen Sautner, Author of “Fish On, Fish Off” and “A Cast in the Woods”“America needs more outdoor writers like Matt Miller. He understands that fish are wildlife, too, and that there is no such thing as a “trash fish” that wasn’t hybridized or otherwise concocted by humans. In this deeply personal, engaging narrative Miller shows us what’s wrong and right with modern fishing and fish management. But even when he condemns he gives us hope. Anyone who loves nature – angler or not – should not miss this important book.”–Ted Williams, outdoor and environmental writerWhat’s to become to become of the ancient art of angling in the dystopian world of 21st-century America? Author Matt Miller goes off in search of an answer, casting his line into trash-strewn agricultural canals, wastewater drainage ditches, pay ponds, as well as near-pristine lakes and rivers, chasing a wide range of species, from beautiful native trout and salmon to dime-sized micro-fish and suckers rarely pursued by anglers. Although Miller doesn’t spare any punches, he is optimistic about the future of angling. Fishing through the Apocalypse is an entertaining and enlightening account for anglers and non-anglers alike.— Tim Gallagher, author of Born to Fish and The Grail Bird

Matthew L. Miller is director of science communications for The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organization. He is editor and lead writer the popular Cool Green Science blog and is one of the most prolific writers in the organization’s 65-year history. He has traveled across North America and to five continents to cover stories on science, nature and outdoor recreation. He’s worked for the Conservancy for 17 years, previously serving as communications director for the Idaho program. Matt received a degree in English – Creative Writing from Penn State, where he also worked as a publicity writer early in his career. As a freelance writer, he’s written about the outdoors for Sports Afield, Bugle, Quality Whitetails, Backcountry Journal, Living Bird and many other publications. He’s an active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and has received numerous awards including Outstanding Board Member and several awards for blogging. He’s an avid angler, hunter, naturalist and distance runner, and lives in Boise with his wife and young son.