In Trout Fishing in America, the narrative unfolds in a whimsical, non-linear fashion, exploring themes of idealism, disappointment, and the American dream. The book opens with a striking image: a photograph on the cover of Brautigan and his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Adler, posed in front of the Benjamin Franklin statue in San Francisco's Washington Square. Throughout the narrative, the author navigates between memories and fantasies, blending the real with the surreal.

First Encounters and Early Memories

The narrator's introduction to trout fishing in America came from an unlikely source—his drunken stepfather. As a boy in Portland, Oregon, he was captivated by the sight of a waterfall cascading down a hill. However, upon returning the next morning, ready to embark on his first fishing adventure, he discovered the waterfall was nothing more than a set of wooden stairs climbing up to a house. Years later, despite becoming an experienced fisherman, he faced yet another hitchhiking disappointment when no car stopped to give him a ride to his fishing spot.

Childhood Adventures: The Kool-Aid Wino

A vivid childhood memory involves the narrator's friend, known as the Kool-Aid Wino. Due to an injury, the Wino was confined to his home, but this did not stop them from creating their own sweet escape. With a nickel package of grape Kool-Aid, they turned their day into a playful indulgence. Alongside these childhood recollections, the narrator shares tales of culinary endeavors, like making apple compote and walnut catsup, which transport him to Mooresville, Indiana. Here, a Mooresville resident mirrors John Dillinger's audacity by purchasing a revolver to handle a rat infestation.

Urban Reflections and Artistic Dreams

In San Francisco, dubbed a "Walden Pond for Winos" by the narrator, he and his artist friends, who often found themselves unemployed, fantasize about opening a flea circus or committing themselves to an asylum for its comforts. Despite their creative aspirations, the narrator finds himself battling through nature at fishing locations like Tom Martin Creek and Graveyard Creek, where poison oak and steep canyons thwart any hope of a successful catch. Back in the city, his imagination wanders to romantic escapades in a bookstore, while the reality of catching plentiful trout remains a distant dream.

Trout Fishing in America Shorty

Returning to San Francisco, the narrator encounters Trout Fishing in America Shorty, a legless wino navigating North Beach in a wheelchair. Shorty, often found unconscious in a laundromat window, is notorious for shouting obscenities in mock Italian. The narrator and his friend entertain the notion of shipping Shorty to the American author Nelson Algren, only to abandon the idea. In a reflective moment, they muse that Shorty should one day be laid to rest by the Franklin statue, as both Shorty and Franklin symbolize different facets of America. In another fanciful thought, the narrator conjures an imaginary Mayor of the Twentieth Century, a modern Jack the Ripper, his attire adorned with mountains and blue jays, committing his crimes under the cover of night.

The Elusiveness of the Perfect Catch

The pursuit of trout takes the narrator to idyllic spots like Paradise Creek, Spirit Prison, and Little Redfish Lake, yet his efforts yield little. He recalls a peculiar incident in Gelatao, Mexico, where while tidying an attic, he stumbled upon a ledger kept by an elderly woman's brother, recording over two thousand missed trout catches. This ledger of failures resonates with the narrator's own elusive quest for the perfect catch.

Fanciful Bargains and Inventive Realities

The narrative takes a whimsical turn as the narrator visits the Cleveland Wrecking Company, where he inquires about purchasing a used trout stream, complete with all its natural accessories. The shop offers everything imaginable for sale, from disassembled waterfalls to animals and birds. In another playful vision, he imagines Leonardo da Vinci, hired by the South Bend Tackle Company, crafting a new spinning lure called "The Last Supper." Embracing a life akin to the Kool-Aid Wino's invented reality, the narrator settles in a cabin near Mill Valley, California, whimsically concluding his story with the word "mayonnaise," a nod to the absurdity and unpredictability of life.