Hardy’s brand name has long been synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. Their click-and-pawl reels are among the most sought-after collectibles in the sport, and it’s not rare to see 50 or 60-year-old Hardy reels sell on eBay for $500 or more.

While their vintage catalog is robust, Hardy isn’t just resting on its laurels, either. They’ve put out some of the best dry fly and Euro nymphing rods I’ve fished in recent years, along with some stellar reels.

Reviewing books is, at its easiest, daunting. While I’ve been writing professionally for the better part of a decade now, I don’t always feel qualified to critique the work of others. And that’s the problem facing me right now. Steve Ramirez’s new book Casting Forward is the freshest collection of fishing stories I’ve read in years. The writing is both tight and flowing — much like the rivers in his beloved Texas Hill Country that Ramirez so tangibly describes.