Who said “Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your…”?

Verified

Ernest Hemingway. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Trout Fishing in Europe", in The Toronto Star Weekly (17 November 1923)

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Authors A–Z
“Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.”
— Ernest Hemingway
Verified"Trout Fishing in Europe", in The Toronto Star Weekly (17 November 1923) · evidenceFishing

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Trout Fishing in Europe", in The Toronto Star Weekly (17 November 1923).

APA

Hemingway, E. (n.d.). Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17997-somebody-just-back-of-you-while-you-are/

MLA

Hemingway, Ernest. “Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17997-somebody-just-back-of-you-while-you-are/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hemingway, Ernest. “Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17997-somebody-just-back-of-you-while-you-are/.

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