Fishing, angling Books

Book SynopsisJust like CARPology magazine, The Ultimate Guide To Carp Fishing has been written with one purpose in mind: to help you catch more carp. Its 180-pages make for 35 chapters of detailed carp-catching information, covering five key areas: Bait, France, Rigs, Tactics and Watercraft. Regardless of your skill level, there is most definitely something in here to help every carp angler.From bait application to natural baits, to fishing through the seasons and trying to hit the horizon during the winter months, The Ultimate Guide To Carp Fishing offers easy-to-follow advice, in nice bitesize chunks. It's the kind of book to use as a reference tool time and time again.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Valentine's ability to enter another world to search for food is inspiring. Seeing her passion and care for the fish she catches made me respect her immensely. Good Catch captures that perfectly." --Brad Leone, New York Times bestselling author of Field Notes for Food Adventure

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Book SynopsisTHE PERFECT FATHER''S DAY GIFT!Since the earliest writings of civilization, people have been writing about fish and the pursuit of them. Taut Lines is a book of the present with regular forays into the past, reflecting not on where we''re going, but where we''ve come from.As all anglers know, the fish themselves are only half of fishing. Finding peace, spirituality, or a sense of belonging in nature; the meditative tranquility that settles into the mind and body as you cast into the waters for hours on end; the companionship or, alternately, the solitude: these are some of the things that hook anglers as much as the fish. They are all explored in this book.In the name of variety, coverage has been extended to some fishes typically overlooked in fishing anthologies, up to the great white shark from Jaws, the most famous (and feared) fish in all of film and literature. There are as many types of fishing literature as there are fishermen

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Book SynopsisNew in Paperback: The harrowing adventure-at-sea memoir ("Terrific."-Daniel James Brown) recounting the 2013 search-and-rescue mission for lost Montauk fisherman John Aldridge."A Speck in the Sea is a terrific read-harrowing and inspiring at the same time. In the end it's a moving testament both to our individual will to survive and to our collective will to come to the aid of others in distress. I couldn't put it down." -Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the BoatIn the dead of night on July 24, 2013, John Aldridge was thrown off the back of the Anna Mary while his fishing partner, Anthony Sosinski, slept below. As desperate hours ticked by, Sosinski, the families, the local fishing community, and the U.S. Coast Guard in three states mobilized in an unprecedented search effort that culminated in a rare and exhilarating success.A tale of survival, perseverance, and community, A Speck in the Sea tells of one man's struggle to survive as friends and strangers work to bring him home. Aldridge's wrenching first-person account intertwines with the narrative of the massive, constantly evolving rescue operation designed to save him.Trade ReviewA Speck in the Sea is a terrific read-harrowing and inspiring at the same time. In the end it's a moving testament both to our individual will to survive and to our collective will to come to the aid of others in distress. I couldn't put it down. * Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat *Sometimes being a hero means just hanging on and having faith--which is exactly what John Aldridge and Anthony Sosinski did on July 24, 2013. This is an amazing tale of survival, family, community, and friendship from two true American originals. * Paul Tough, New York Magazine *A robust portrait of working-class Montauk, the Long Island community... richly detailed. * Kirkus Review *A rich backstory-including complicated personal lives and deep family histories-adds depth to this page turner. * Publishers Weekly *This absolutely riveting book follows the increasingly desperate (and, at times, disorganized) rescue efforts as well as Aldridge's own odyssey (How does a man facing near-certain death keep himself believing he might survive?)... the book is... captivating. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisUpdated and expanded for 2017, with new expert information on everything the modern fisherman needs to know—from picking the right gear and kitting out your boat, to the best techniques and tactics for seeking, locating, and snaring your catch. This revamped edition of the best-selling 2013 title brings readers all the information they need before they hit the water: Gear Up Find the best of what’s out there, and what isn’t worth the money. Including lures, baits, flies and tackle for any situation in any style of water. Hit the Water From streams and ponds to big lakes and the open ocean, get all the info and field-tested strategies you need be successful where you’re fishing Hook a Prize The experts at Field and Stream and professional fishing guides around the country lay out the do’s and don’t’s, where those sneaky fish are hiding, and how to put yourself in best position for the catch and much more. Whether Bobber fishing with newbies or looking to reel in a prize white marlin in the open ocean these are the tricks, tips and techniques to get the job done. This book also highlights some of the author's favorite fishing spots as well as some dream destinations. For amateur fisherman of all skill levels, this is a must-have book.  Packaged in a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards, this practical manual withstands heavy-duty use indoors and out.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to the fishes of the Okavango Delta and Chobe River, this book offers background information on the diverse aquatic habitats of the region and on fish feeding, breeding and survival strategies. It also provides useful hints for anglers. The species entries describe each fish in detail, with key ID points and information on habits and occurrence. Each account is accompanied by a colour illustration or photograph. The book concludes with information on how best to utilise and conserve the fishes of the delta system and Chobe River. This is the only such guide to fishes of the region and will be invaluable to local and visiting fishermen, naturalists and conservationists, as well as the many tourists who visit this spectacular African paradise.

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Book SynopsisDo you ever go fishing? You can fish with friends or family. All you need is a rod, a hook, some bait and a little luck.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A lyrical companion to his father’s classic, chronicling their family’s history and bond with Montana’s Blackfoot River. His storytelling—from the fishing with his dad to the life and death of his uncle Paul—is reliable, elegant and charming. … Spectacularly vivid and personal. … While Maclean’s journalistic prose is sharp and concise, it can also be beautiful.” — Washington Post "The prose in Home Waters, which is often transporting, flows with a shadow-cast grace. ... The best word I can think of to describe Home Waters also happens to be the Maclean’s family word: beautiful." — Field & Stream "A memoir about the Maclean family’s four-generation tie to Montana’s Blackfoot River that elaborates on the back story of Norman Maclean’s extraordinary 1976 novella A River Runs Through It." — Wall Street Journal "Maclean’s father, Norman, wrote the classic novella A River Runs through It. This memoir is an ode to its inspirations." — New York Times Book Review, "New & Noteworthy" "Graceful and compelling. ... Greatly expands what we might already know about Montana, fly fishing and the meaning of family. ... This is a great book." — Chicago Tribune “A worthy non-fiction companion to his father’s classic, A River Runs Through It. … Reminded me of Herman Melville recounting whaling minutiae in Moby Dick. … Throughout Home Waters, Maclean shows that he’s a real writer. But he’s also a real reporter with a long career for the Chicago Tribune." — Chicago Sun-Times “A wonderful book about fathers, sons, brothers, and family." — USA Today “A moving memoir of a family’s love affair with the Blackfoot River in Montana. … Lovers of literature and nature will be captivated by this heartfelt tribute to place and family.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “In this welcome companion to an American classic, John N. Maclean casts a story of place, family, and legacy: of highland streams and woodlands, and the gifts waiting in their depths; of a quiet father with much to share; and of the sometimes meandering, sometimes tumbling courses that carry us through life. A spare, patient, and compelling reminiscence that stays with you.” — Earl Swift, New York Times bestselling author of Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island "Finally, a brilliant, intimate, and reliable chronicle of the remarkable Maclean family and the origins of a great book, welded seamlessly to the memorable angling days and writing life of a central member. I loved Home Waters." — Nick Lyons, author of Spring Creek "I can honestly say I loved Home Waters. Reading it felt like a visit with old friends--the characters from A River Runs through It—who you haven’t seen in a long while, during which you learned some things you’d never known before. John N. Maclean’s book does a wonderful job of illustrating the importance of family and place—something we can all relate to even if the particulars of our stories are very different." — Kirby Lambert, Montana Historical Society “John Maclean's Home Waters is a wonderful reflection on how a sense of place and shared activity, especially sport, defines our lives, our families, and the meaning we find in them.” — David Brooks, executive director, Montana Trout Unlimited “Maclean’s Hemingway-esque prose is as clear as a mountain stream, flowing with a poetic cadence and lyrically describing the many splendid natural treasures to be found under the Big Sky. A sure bet for readers who enjoy American and natural history and a must-read for fishing enthusiasts.” — Booklist “Maclean offers a lyrical love letter to Montana’s Blackfoot River, fishing, and his storied family in this captivating memoir. … Fans of his father’s novella will relish the details that served as its inspiration and are here rendered in Maclean’s sharp yet poetic prose. … This richly observed narrative is sure to reel readers in.” — Publishers Weekly “The mythology of fly-fishing in the West is richer because of this book.” — Angler's Journal "A must-read. ... Its narrative revolves around relationships rooted in Montana's favorite pastime, connecting with anyone who covets the meditative value of casting for trout on familiar rivers. ... Pick up a copy to read this summer and let your mind wander to the waters you call home." — Outside Bozeman “Even if you aren’t a fly-fishing aficionado and don’t know a wet fly from a dry one, you just might be hooked within the first few pages as Maclean reels you into this engaging book of family, place and history.” — Helena Independent Record "John Maclean has filled in the holes of his father’s story with Home Waters. Where Norman used his book to make his peace with his past, John’s narrative shows how his dad, like a savvy trout that always avoids the hook, learned to distinguish truth from imitation and pass that wisdom on to the next generation. ... John didn’t fall far from the Maclean writing tree. Like his father, the longtime Chicago Tribune writer has an affinity for crafting his experiences in aesthetic tones." — Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star "In Home Waters, John Maclean brings readers back to his family’s love of Seeley Lake and a life spent out of doors, a life marked by both magic and tragedy, but always by fly fishing for trout. Good reading." — Petoskey News-Review "A testament to the power of place and the love that binds us, throughout the generations. Home Waters is a keeper." — Flathead Living Magazine "Wonderful...Maclean tells his life story in his own way, uniquely and with eloquence and style." — The Piscatorial Journal

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Book SynopsisIntroducing a unique series of international sport/travel guides: your favorite sports, Outside's top picks of the greatest places on earth to pursue them. Each guide is an invitation to take your first steps toward an active vacation of exploration.

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Book SynopsisHere is the complete history of angling, as well as a comprehensive guide to every aspect of the sport: advice on tackle and accessories, instructions on casting and fly-tying, tips on locating likely trout spots, and more. Full-color photos.

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Book SynopsisExpert advice on where to fish, what to fish for, the best fishing techniques for all kinds of species, and locations and tips on reading all types of water. The book includes an in-depth visual guide to all the major species of fish, together with professional tips of the trade on how to catch them.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsThe Master’s Fly Box will contain 21 chapters. Each chapter will be based on an interview with one premiere angler. Each chapter describes that angler’s theories about fly design, as well as his favorite fishing techniques. Each chapter will contain tips about where and when to fish, and tackle selection. This approach will give readers information about both fly tying as well as fishing, and will increase the books appeal to the broadest group of readers. The Master’s Fly Box will feature more than 200 photographs of flies with complete pattern recipes. Participants will also submit print-quality photographs of themselves and their clients fishing. List of Subjects:Initial invitations to participate in The Master’s Fly Box will be sent to the following anglers. These subjects are among the most active anglers in the field, and regularly appear at fly-fishing shows and clubs across North America. They are also among the sport’s most published authors. In addition to having high profiles within the angling community, participants were selected to represent a broad geographic area: Mike MercerA. K. BestCharlie CravensBrian ChanJay BuchnerAl BeattyCraig MathewsSkip MorrisDave HughesJohn BarrDenny RickardsTom RosenbauerDavy WootenRandall KaufmannJack Dennis

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewVince Wilcox's Naturally Artificial Signature Flies includes patterns that will appeal to tiers of all skill levels. Tie Vince's flies and you will catch more fish." —David Klausmeyer, Editor, Fly Tyer magazine"Vince Wilcox is the most creative and unorthodox tier of his generation. His flies are as fun to tie as they are to fish." —Ross Purnell, Editor, Fly Fisherman magazineTable of ContentsIntroduction A brief synopsis of what the reader can expect to accomplish by purchasing “Synthetic Synergism”, including why tiers of all levels and all regions can benefit from it. Part I Nymphs Chapter One Minute midge – A midge pattern created to be fast, efficient and of course productive. Basic rotary vise skills will be applied and lead into more complicated patterns. Chapter Two Lint Bug – A fly that has been the favorite of many anglers throughout the country. Learn how to tie the fly that started as a pocket lint request. Chapter Three Marabare – The Marabare is a guide fly, meaning it can be quickly tied and fished in a variety of situations. Combines the techniques and materials used in the minute midge and lint bug even while adding another level of sophistication by incorporating a trailing shuck. The new tungsten anodized beads give it a fresh look and a quicker descent. Chapter Four VW Emerger – This fly combines synthetics to create a midge/baetis that has been sold by the thousands. Chapter Five Madison pupa – Named after my daughter and the river, this fly will incorporate the use of eyes for additional weight and allow tiers to add a new technique to their belt. Chapter Six C-Squared – The cased caddis can be viewed as a free-living caddis from the bottom or a caddis still in its case from the top, allowing it to cover several species at once. Another technique is implemented here with the addition of collars and full wing cases. Chapter Seven T.N.T. – Caddis pupa are an important part of any tiers arsenal and this one has been a staple in fly boxes for decades. This “dynamite” fly can flat-out get it done under the most difficult conditions by fishing it deep along the bottom or just under the surface and anywhere in between. Chapter Eight Ginger Snap – Created to represent the sulphurs of the east and the PMDs of the west, the addition of a dry fly hackle on a nymph makes the collar remain stiff under water, producing a trail of tiny air bubble as it makes its way through the water. Teaching tiers how to create flies with alternative materials and think outside the bubble. Chapter Nine Little Green Machine – This fly has gained a place in fly boxes from coast to coast by producing in all situations, from still water to rivers and streams. More underlayment techniques are demonstrated to the tier to show the translucent properties of the micro tubing. Chapter Ten Big Thompson Special – A solid pattern that can be fished for caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies alike. This pattern is a quick version of the infamous Copper John that takes one quarter of the time to tie and remains just as effective. Chapter Eleven Microstone – If I could only carry one stone fly, this is the one. The first of its kind to incorporate midge tubing for an abdomen, throw on a wire rib and a wing case coated with UV knot sense and you have a stone fly designed to ride upside down to avoid snagging and more positive hook sets. Chapter Twelve Rapunzel – A true damsel in distress, this fly has been able to come to the rescue for anglers around the world. Damsels are abundant in every lake and stream and can also be fished as a Hexagenia or dragon nymph in the larger sizes. A unique design that utilizes nymph tubing burned into a set of glass eyes to hold them in place using a cautery tool and an underlayment beneath the tubing for an added touch of realism all while swimming through the water with its Cul De Chicken tail and wing pads. Chapter Thirteen 3WB – Wilcox’s Woven Water Boatman teaches tiers several different techniques, including how to use a half-hitch weave to create a lateral profile made of midge diamond braid, and a full flash wing case covered in knot sense to represent the air bubble the naturals carry on their belly. Another fly designed to ride upside down and engage the fish in a more positive manner while avoiding streambed vegetation. Chapter Fourteen Prince Charming – Prince charming is the perfect blend of natural and synthetic materials, creating a synergistic effect that makes it a shop favorite. Here we will discuss the benefits of adding the tungsten head and dry fly hackle collar as well the history behind the original Prince Nymph. Chapter Fifteen Superman – There is an added element of fun to your fishing when you are asked, “What did you get `em on?” and you can respond, “Superman.” We discuss wire abdomens and the first ever commercial fly to use knotted micro tubing for legs. Chapter Sixteen Bunny Bugger – Utilizing the newest materials and some new techniques, this bugger works for trout, bass, northern pike, salmon and steelhead. Part IIDries Chapter Seventeen Para-Variant – The first parachute fly of the book is tied using new and easy to follow techniques. This was also the first dry fly I tie having replaced the traditional quill bodies with the synthetic tubing to aide in flotation and durability. Chapter Eighteen ELC – Many anglers believe what they are witnessing in the evening is a caddis “hatch” when in fact it is the pregnant females returning to the water to drop their eggs. We discuss what to look for and the alternative ways to tie and fish this pattern. Chapter Nineteen Bevo – This caddis utilizes stripped grizzly hackle quills to represent long antennae. Add trimmed foam for wing pads to supply extra buoyancy and stability. Chapter Twenty Low Rider – This little CDC parachute mayfly has been a favorite of spring creek and tail water fisherman because of its realistic profile and addition of the high vis parachute. Chapter Twenty-One AC Caddis – Elk hair is used as a parachute as well as antennae, demonstrating to the tier how to make the wing, parachute, and antennae from one material. Chapter Twenty-Two Micro Midge – The first of its kind in production, this extended-body tube midge is easy to tie and flat out catch fish, especially during those hatches when the angler needs to drop down to fifteen feet of leader and a 7X tippet. Chapter Twenty-Three Micro Mayfly – Another first in the industry, this fly utilizes tubing as well as micro fibbets to form the tail. Add a realistic set of microscopic eyes by incorporating a cautery tool and some nymph tubing for a realistic wing. This mayfly has outstanding visibility for those anglers looking to see a size twenty from sixty feet away. Chapter Twenty-Four JC Special – This fly was created to help my long-time fishing partner John Clark see the fly better on the water. The addition of rubber legs makes the fly come alive. Hundreds of thousands of this fly have been sold, and the tying steps have never been released. Chapter Twenty-Five Dingle Berry – Articulated nymphs and streamers have been around for some time, but articulated dries were unavailable on the commercial market until I created this series. Chapter Twenty-Six Foam Sally – One of the first commercially-available flies to incorporate foam for a wing, and the first to use adhesive foams to add a mottled wing to the underside, this pattern floats like a cork even while riding in the film just as a natural would. Part IIITerrestrials Chapter Twenty-Seven Glo-Ant – Incorporating the use of a phosphate-impregnated yarn to add a glow-in-the-dark wing is a first in the industry. Tied in larger sizes, these flies can make nighttime fishing a reality for many anglers, and in the sunlight the glowing sheen gives the wing a realistic appearance on the water. All species of fish have found this one hard to resist. Chapter Twenty-Eight Herbie –Created as a cicada pattern, this beetle imitation can also be fished as a cricket with outstanding results. The No-Fray wing over the top of the foam is impossible for fish to resist and it floats like a cork too. Chapter Twenty-Nine VW Hopper – Sold by the thousands, these hoppers have taken the angling world by storm, and for good reason. The foam overlays used on this fly were the first of their kind, and the addition of a set of eyes make this fly too hard to resist for the angler and the fish. Chapter Thirty Nymphing strategies for rivers and still waters – This final section will give anglers the benefit of my thirty years of experience, providing techniques to make them more successful anglers in all situations, complete with diagrams.

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Book SynopsisThe essential fly-fishing guide to the Greater Portland, Oregon, area, for residents and visitors.Table of ContentsI. IntroductionII. Tips and Advice Basic information on fishing in the greater Portland area, overview of available fish species and habitat preferences along with a discussion of anadromous fish run timing and some general fishing advice relating to the fishing locations highlighted in the book. Also reviewed would be angling license and tag requirements, and some important regulations such as those dealing with wild versus hatchery fish. III. Northwest of Portland1. Multnomah Channel, Willamette River Opportunities for salmon, steelhead, shad, sturgeon, bass, walleye, catfish and perch about 40 minutes from Portland. 2. Gilbert River, Sauvie Island Walleye, catfish, sturgeon and bass 50 minutes from Portland. 3. Smith and Bybee Lakes Located about 15 minutes from downtown Portland, crappie, bullhead, bass, bluegill and perch. 4. Willamette and Columbia Rivers, Kelly Point Park Good angling opportunities for sturgeon, salmon and steelhead at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, 25 minutes from Portland. IV. Southwest of Portland5. St. Louis Ponds Rainbow trout and a variety of warmwater fish 50 minutes from Portland. 6. Henry Hagg Lake Trout, bass, crappie and perch. A 60-minute drive from Portland. 7. Pudding River Cutthroat trout, with small stream fishing opportunities in its tributaries. 45 minutes from Portland. 8. Gales Creek A first-rate and accessible winter steelhead and trout stream 45 minutes from Portland. 9. Tualatin River at Cook Park Good opportunities to use a float tube or pontoon boat to catch bass. About 20 minutes from Portland. 10. Willamette River at George Rogers Park Catch a variety of Willamette River warmwater species where Oswego Creek flows into the main river. 20 minutes from Portland. 11. North Fork Yamhill River Nice, small stream angling for native, wild cutthroat trout 45 minutes from Portland. V. Southeast of Portland12. Clackamas River at Carver Park A 30-minute drive from Portland. Fish available, depending upon the time of year, includes Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead, along with rainbow trout. 13. Clackamas River at Milo McIver Park Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout. It is a 55-minute drive from Portland. 14. Sandy River at Oxbow Park Excellent bank and wading access 50 minutes from Portland to fish for Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead. 15. Sandy River at Sandy Hatchery A 50-minute drive and 30-minute hike to the Sandy River to catch steelhead and Chinook and coho salmon. 16. Eagle Creek at Bonnie Lure Park Another top, easily accessible Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead stream 45 minutes from Portland. 17. Molalla River A spring Chinook and winter steelhead stream 50 minutes from Portland. 18. Clackamette Park, Willamette River Fishing for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and warmwater species at the junction of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers 25 minutes from Portland. 19. Estacada Lake A reservoir on the Clackamas River 50 minutes from Portland offers fishing for steelhead, trout, and coho and Chinook salmon. 20. Sandy River at Lewis and Clark State Park Fishing for salmon and steelhead where the Clackamas River enters the Columbia River, 25 minutes from Portland. VI. Northeast of Portland Nearby Fishing in Washington State A brief overview of nearby fishing opportunities across the state line including licensing and tag requirements, and other considerations of note to non-resident anglers.

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Book SynopsisAn affordable introduction to fly fishing with a new spin on the subject. Because many anglers feel overwhelmed by the wealth of information they have been brainwashed into believing they must know to catch a fish on a fly, Everything you always wanted to known about fly fishing* but were afraid to ask combine authority with accessibility, creating a truly unique approach to the typical how-to book, providing answers to questions that many think are too dumb to ask.Table of ContentsTable of Contents Section One Instant Gratification: Be a better angler right now. How to improve immediately 1. What's the difference between fly-fishing and spin casting?2. Why should I consider fly fishing over other ways of catching fish?3. How do I cast efficiently? 4. What's the number one casting mistake and how do I solve it?5. How do I tie better knots?6. What piece of my gear should I improve immediately?7. How to get a good drift with a dry fly?8. Do I really need a strike indicator?9. How can I see more fish?10. What do I do when I hook a big fish? Section Two Up in the Air: Improving your cast. Longer, easier, and more efficient 1. Do my hands work together?2. What is a double-haul?3. Why is my back-cast so important?4. Why did my line pile in front of me?5. How do I beat this wind?6. What is a reach cast?7. What is an S-cast?8. How do I get rid of my tailing loop?9. What about casting in tight quarters?10. I want to cast 100 feet. Do I need to? Section Three Humans are From Land; Fish are From Water: Unlocking Your Inner Fish-Finder 1. What do fish need?2. Where do trout hide in rivers?3. What about shade or undercut banks?4. What about saltwater fish? Do they need the same things as trout?5. How do I keep from spooking a fish? Section Four Looks Can Kill: Presentation. Getting your flies in the spot and looking natural 1. How do I mend effectively?2. What is "tracking" and why is it important?3. I don't need split shot, do I? 4. What about size or color? Are they really important?5. What about fly floatant or dessicant? Which ones are the best?6. How do I rig for fishing nymphs? Section Five Faking It: Choosing the right flies and using them at the right times 1. Why should I care about nymphs?2. What is the difference between an emerger and an adult?3. What is all this talk about "cripples?"4. Do I really need to match the hatch?5. Why is a Stimulator a great dry fly?6. What are the ten best trout flies?7. What are the ten best saltwater flies?8. Why should I care about size or color?Section Six Getting the Goods: Gearing-up, rigging-up, or gearing-down 1. What is the one rod I should own? For trout? For saltwater?2. What is a double-taper fly line? Why might I want it?3. Is there an advantage to fluorocarbon tippet and leaders?4. Do I need a large-arbor reel?5. What is all this talk about rod action? Section Seven Salty Dogs: Specific challenges of saltwater fly fishing 1. Is casting really that important?2. It's like hunting, isn't it?3. What are the species to fish for?4. How do I know where to fish?5. Will my 9 foot 5 weight rod work?6. What special tackle do I need?7. Flats, inshore, and offshore. What's the difference? It's all saltwater.8. What about tides? How important are they, really? Section Eight Everything Else Under the Sun: Travel, teaching kids and spouses, and more 1. Should I carry-on or check my rods and gear?2. What about shipping things to my destination?3. How do I store my gear for the season?4. I want to teach my wife to fish? Am I good enough? 5. How do I find a good guide? Section Nine Self-Reflection: Questions to ask yourself when fishing 1. How do I approach the stream?2. Did I survey the situation?3. Have I fished from "top to bottom?"4. What about other anglers? Am is my etiquette appropriate?5. If I am releasing fish, am I doing it with the fish in mind? Section Ten Other People's Thoughts: Quotes and thoughts from fellow anglers Other Resources Websites, guides, local and regional resources

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Book SynopsisFrom one of the most respected fishing writers in the country, this how-to guide will show every fly fisherman, from beginning to experienced, how to catch the biggest trout of his or her life.Trade Review"Holt is one of America's most honest writers. His voice is like that of the rivers he loves: gritty, gravel-throated, braided with subtle but powerful currents."—Robert F. Jones, former outdoor writer for Sports Illustrated and Field & Stream, novelist, and author of The Fishing DoctorTable of ContentsTable of Contents Chapter 1 – The Illusive, Predatory Nature of Browns – Why are browns so difficult to catch, and why is hunting this voracious predator so rewarding and exciting? Why are browns different from other trout? The classic, crouching, quiet approach with lengthy leaders, tiny tippets, and long casts is only rarely needed for browns. Big patterns, short stout leaders, and loud, splashy casts tight to a bank or even onto the bank work better. An angler needs to attract the attention of big fish that prefer undercut, brushy banks, and shadowy lies. Chapter 2 – The Surface Game – While only ten percent of a large trout’s feeding is on the surface, fishing dry flies or poppers can provide for a disproportionate level of success. Even mouse and small frog imitations will provoke heart-stopping attacks from very large fish. From the largest patterns down to the smallest, the various flies and techniques will be dissected and explained. Chapter 3 – Lurking Just Below the Surface – For something completely different, a large, chartreuse, saltwater barracuda streamer can drive big browns into a lunatic frenzy. This is shark hunting on the high plains. But a more traditional, sedate approach is needed when the browns are feeding on nymphs and emerging pupae just below the surface. Soft hackle patterns like the Partridge-and-Orange cover lots of water easily and efficiently. I explain my version of a technique first detailed by Jock Scott in Greased Line Fishing For Salmon and refined by Sylvester Nemes. Chapter 4 – Subterranean Excursions – Nymphing the classic Hare’s Ear Nymph along the bottom will take large browns even when little else works. I’ve found that a pattern designed for lakes often is a killer on deep, smooth, or even rapid stretches of rivers. The Bigg’s Special imitates damsel and dragon flies. Chapter 5 – That Old Ace in the Hole – I’ve taken brown trout of five pounds or more on a Cree Woolly Bugger that I designed years ago. I describe in direct terms how to fish the bugger, either retrieved as fast as possible, fished like a forage fish with a serious malfunction, or dead drifted. Knowing when to use each a approach is the key. As an Alabama tournament bass fisherman told me on the Missouri above Randall Dam, “That’s a real fine bugger you’ve got there. Make darn sure you fish it like a minnow afeared for its life.” Chapter 6 – Reading the Water – Most fly fishers believe that they are good at determining where big browns hold. But prime locations are often not what they seem, and not always evident at first glance. Pools, riffles, and runs are all good, but how about shallow, still water among grass and reeds, a la northern pike? Or how about working patterns along narrow, lowering side channels that resemble the creeks of our childhoods? I call this “Toy Creek Fishing.” Chapter 7 – Final Thoughts – A summation with a few last tips, I’ll discuss seasonal and daily timing, fishing rivers as they compress after spring runoff, and how to take the information in this book and use it for other trout species, along with bass and northern pike. Further Reading – This will be a thorough and at times esoteric list and description of the titles referenced in this book. Notes – Required tackle, terminal gear and fly tying instructions will be included at the end of each chapter. In addition to what to do, each chapter will also describe what not to do when fishing for big browns.

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Book SynopsisRivers of Sand is an exploration of the unique techniques needed to fish the waters of Michigan and the Great Lakes region, and a discussion of (and paean to) the region itself.Trade ReviewIt absolutely was my favorite fishing read of 2014. * The Grand Rapids Press *"From its intriguing read-me title to its elegiac final sentence, Josh Greenberg's Rivers of Sand is a delightful gem that—whether you are a Michigander or not—deserves an honored place in every literate fly angler's library, because, like Thoreau, he has managed to make the local universal. Greenberg's accessible, conversational voice delivers the kind of experienced knowledge and wisdom that benefits fly fishers everywhere. It's the next-best thing to spending a day on the water with Josh as your guide, patiently unraveling the mysteries and secrets of fly fishing as you go."—Robert DeMott, editor of Astream: American Writers on Fly Fishing"Every year or two, or maybe even five, a wonderful book arrives that infuses a compelling narrative, accomplished lyric prose, and practical dispensation of rarified knowledge, a singular book, in other words, that could not have been written by anyone other than its author. This one, Rivers of Sand, happens to be about fishing. What's more, its author, Josh Greenberg, seems chosen by its subject . . . much the way a large wary trout turns to take an Adams from amidst a blanket hatch of mayflies.Reader: Rise for this book!" —Chris Dombrowski, author of Earth Again "Rivers of Sand pulls you forward with a beautiful and compelling blend of history, people, rivers, flies, and the introspection of a fine, inquiring mind, not to mention one hell of a lot of incredibly practical information about Michigan's trout and some other species as well."—Joseph Heywood, author of The Snowfly and the Woods Cop Mystery seriesTable of ContentsIntroduction: The lakes and rivers that necessitated the diverse methods of fly-fishing practiced in Michigan, with some history. From the spring-filled Au Sable and Manistee -- dry fly havens both -- to the burly Pere Marquette the range of habitats has made Michigan anglers proficient in everything from Spey to Tenkara. Chapter 1: HeadwatersTechniques for fishing the small water including rod choice, approach, slow vs. fast water, casting, flies, tippet and leader, scouting, and meditations on the above. This chapter will guide anglers in finding their own secret stream by revealing what to look for on maps, characteristics of a good creek, and how to be a steward of your own patch of little water. Chapter 2: Making a Day of ItProspecting for trout year round, including two fly rigs, wet flies, soft hackles, attractor patterns, as well as reading the water and scouting out good summer and winter refuges. From sucking ice from the rod guides to drinking from a spring on a sultry summer day, the off-season -- or the off-times -- is something to be savored by the few smart enough to be on the river when others aren't. Chapter 3: The Small FliesWays to make fishing the little flies easier, along with why some anglers are discovering the joy of going tiny. Amadou and desiccants, 8x fluorocarbon, point flies and lead flies, and other tricks from a river valley where #30s are a fact of life. Chapter 4: The Rise Fishing the major hatches, with some anecdotal content. Links well with Swisher and Richards, who wrote Selective Trout on the Au Sable, about the bugs within the chapter. This allows me to document changes to fly design, as well as the way the hatches have changed over the years. We actually have heavy hatches of bugs that, back in the seventies, were rarities! Many of our Michigan rivers offer unbelievable dry fly fishing, but each river is different. On the Pere Marquette and Muskegon, the Gray Drakes fly into flashlights. Meanwhile, on the Manistee, the brown drakes bounce at dusk. Chapter 5: MidnightFrom hex to mice, the best way to be successful after dark, including, as before, gear and terminal tackle, along with fly ideas, flashlights, stories, and ways to simplify the problems posed by darkness. Along with Pennsylvania, Michigan has been at the forefront of the midnight game. In the heat of summer, we rise with the fireflies and snooze to the songs of the morning birds. Chapter 6: StreamersThe different approaches for streamer fishing between seasons, including new patterns and techniques, articulated flies, classic streamers, brook trout in the fall, and big water and dory techniques. Chapter 7: ChromeAll the ways we fish for steelhead in Michigan, from graceful Spey to the clunky Chuck-N-Duck. We have steelhead fishing available every month of the year, and we chase them with all the vigor of big game hunters. From sight-fishing for steelhead eating the roe of spawning Chinooks, to swinging colorful egg-sucking leaches through the big blue waters of the Manistee in March, Michigan is a steelheaders paradise. Chapter 8: The Warm Water Tour Smallmouth, Carp, Muskie and Pike. We have some of the finest fly-fishing for these species in Michigan. We'll cover the exotic use of helicopter to locate schools of shallow-water carp on remote Great Lakes islands, to chucking 12-inch divers for record class muskie, to wading the pleasant sandy shoals of Traverse Bay casting for smallmouth. This chapter rejoices in the aquatic habitats most often overlooked.Chapter 9: The Big Lakes Salmon, brown trout, lake trout and steelhead in and around the stillwaters of Michigan and beyond, including surf-casting for record sized browns, catching lake trout along blue drop-offs, traveling to the famous Sault St. Marie rapids for Atlantic salmon, including tackle, line choice, and scouting. The summation of our journey from the fern-lined headwaters, the big lakes not only harbor the fish that spawn in and replenish our rivers, but also feed the rivers in the winter, dropping many feet of "lake-effect" snow on the high inland. We'll cover the techniques needed for this highly specialized form of fishing. Fly choice, rod choice, and even proper clothing will be discussed: this is a game of fall, winter and spring. The conditions are harsh. The fish are silver. And anglers brave the early morning to try their luck for a mystery that borders on a creature of the deep.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION I. LAYING THE FOUNDATION Chapter 1 Life Cycles of Marine Gamefish and Their Prey Chapter 2 Tides Chapter 3 Sight and Sound SECTION II: HABITATS Chapter 4 Seagrass Chapter 5 Mangroves Chapter 6 Oyster Bars Chapter 7 Salt Marshes Chapter 8 Beaches Chapter 9 Rubble and Sand Flats of the Tropics Chapter 10 Stewardship References and Further Reading Appendix A - Table of Common Gamefish Appendix B - Table of Major Prey

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Writing history is gut-wrenching stuff. You're always worried if you're abusing your power by prioritizing importance. I've read enough of these classics to say, 'Yep, Steve, no one could have chosen a better selection, or made the ones I Haven't read sound so appealing.'" –Yvon Chouinard, climber, fly-fisherman, environmental activist and founder of Patagonia"Patrick O'Brian wrote sporting tales? Who knew? Well, who but Steve Bodio, of course. We who fuss with our own libraries—buying, trading, culling, reading, and lusting after—are beholden to Bodio for this compilation of essentials. First I noted (with satisfaction) the books I already have. And then I started filling in the gaps, because no one has a better grasp of what's worth reading in this field. His only mistake? Steve has left out his own books!" –Silvio Calabi, director of the Anglo American Sporting Agency and author of Hemingway's Guns"I've read enough of these classics to say, 'Yep, Steve, no one could have chosen a better selection, or made the ones I Haven't read sound so appealing.'" "…More than anything else, this book will make you hunger for reading… " --Jameson Parker, actor and outdoor writer, from foreword"Steve Bodio is not only our finest 'sporting' and 'nature' writers, he is one of our finest American writers. Period. I've read all his published books and I am not, at root, a hunter or fisherman. I'm a songwriting-painter who appreciates well-writ literature. Bodio's work has opened doors I may never have knocked on. His work should appeal to anyone interested in fine writing. And now: 'A Sportsmans' Library.' Essential, is the word which comes to mind. What a grand collection!" --Tom Russell, writer, songwriter"Nobody who loves traditional blood sport wants its long literary line totally obfuscated by the faux-gonzo Wang-dang Nugents and gear-hawking carny barkers of cartoonish hunting shows. Steve Bodio brings his formidable powers as both reader and writer to the cause, gifting us with a guide to the greats as varied, as magical, and yes, as essential as the works he champions." --Malcolm Brooks, author of Painted HorsesTable of ContentsTable of Contents Part 1: Fishing Chapter 1: Sheridan Anderson, Curtis Creek ManifestoChapter 2: Jim Babb, Fly Fishing FoolChapter 3: Dame Juliana Berners, Book of St Albans, etc. Chapter 4: Burkhard Bilger, Noodling for FlatheadsChapter 5: Russell Chatham, Dark WatersChapter 6: David James Duncan, The River WhyChapter 7: Negley Farson, Gone FishingChapter 8: John Gierach, Trout BumChapter 9: Arnold Gingrich, Well-tempered AnglerChapter 10: Roderick Haig-Brown, A River Never SleepsChapter 11: Ted Hughes, Collected PoemsChapter 12: William Humphrey, My Moby DickChapter 13: Luke Jennings, Blood KnotChapter 14: Nick Lyons, Full CreelChapter 15: Norman MacLean, A River Runs Through ItChapter 16: Teresa Maggio, MattanzaChapter 17: Gavin Maxwell, Harpoon VentureChapter 18: John McDonald, Origins of AnglingChapter 19: Thomas McGuane, 92 In the ShadeChapter 20: Frank Mele, Small in the Eye of a RiverChapter 21: Harry Middleton, On the Spine of TimeChapter 22: Seth Norman, Meanderings of a Fly FishermanChapter 23: Patrick O'Brien, The Last PoolChapter 24: Datus Proper, What the Trout SaidChapter 25: M H Salmon, The Catfish as MetaphorChapter 26: Paul Schmookler, Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Materials: A Natural History Chapter 27: O'Dell Shepard, Thy Rod and Thy ReelChapter 28: G. E. M. Skues, Way of a TroutChapter 29: Jeremy Wade, River MonstersChapter 30: Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler WINGSHOOTING Chapter 31: "BB" (Denys Watkins Pitchford): Manka the Sky GypsyChapter 32: William Beebe, Pheasant JunglesChapter 33: Vance Bourjaily, Unnatural EnemyChapter 34: Tom Davis, The Tattered Autumn SkyChapter 35: George Bird Evans, The Upland Shooting LifeChapter 36: Charles Fergus, A Rough Shooting DogChapter 37: William Harnden Foster, New England Grouse ShootingChapter 38: Caroline Gordon, Aleck Maury, SportsmanChapter 39: Col. Peter Hawker, Instructions to Young Sportsmen…Chapter 40: Van Campen Heilner, American Duck ShootingChapter 41: "Mr." Markland, The Art of Shooting Flying Chapter 42: Timothy Murphy, A Hunter's LogChapter 43: Datus Proper, Pheasants of the MindChapter 44: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Cross CreekChapter 45: Ivan Turgenev, Sportsman's NotebooksChapter 46: Guy de la Valdene, The Fragrance of GrassChapter 47: Charley Waterman, Gun Dogs and Bird Guns GENERAL HUNTING, GUNS, TRAVEL, MIXED, & MISCELLANEOUS(includes falconry and some odd fishing) Chapter 48: Roy Chapman Andrews, Across Mongolian PlainsChapter 49: V. K. Arseniev, Dersu the TrapperChapter 50: John Barsness, The Life of the HuntChapter 51: Peter Beard, The End of the GameChapter 52: W. D. M. Bell, Wanderings of an Elephant HunterChapter 53: Caroline Blackwood, In the PinkChapter 54: Angus Cameron & Judith Jones: LL Bean Game & Fish CookbookChapter 55: Jim Corbett, Maneaters of KumaonChapter 56: Frank & John Craighead, Life With an Indian PrinceChapter 57: Isaak Dinesen (Karen Blixen), Out of AfricaChapter 58: William Faulkner, The Big WoodsChapter 59: Emperor Frederick II, De Arte Venandi cum AvibusChapter 60: John Graves, The Last RunningChapter 61: Dale Guthrie, The Nature of Paleolithic ArtChapter 62: John Haines, The Stars, The Snows, The FireChapter 63: Frances Hamerstrom, Is She Coming Too?Chapter 64: Jim Harrison, Just Before DarkChapter 65: MacDonald Hastings, The ShotgunChapter 66: The Helmericks, We Live in the ArcticChapter 67: Ernest Hemingway, Green Hills of AfricaChapter 68: George Leonard Herter, Bull Cook and Authentic Historical recipes and Practices; Chapter 69: Frank Hibben, Hunting American Lions Chapter 70: Geoffrey Household, Dance of the DwarvesChapter 71: William Humphrey, Home From the HillChapter 72: Steve Hunter, Pale Horse ComingChapter 73: Joe Hutto, Illumination in the FlatwoodsChapter 74: C. J. P. Ionides, A Hunter's StoryChapter 75: Robert F. Jones, Blood SportChapter 76: Aldo Leopold, Sand County AlmanacChapter 77: Dan Mannix, A Sporting ChanceChapter 78: Thomas McGuane, An Outside ChanceChapter 79: Thomas McIntyre, Seasons and DaysChapter 80: Richard Nelson, The Island Within Chapter 81: Jose Ortega y Gasset, Meditations on HuntingChapter 82: Jack O'Connor, Hunting in the SouthwestChapter 83: Rebecca O'Connor, LiftChapter 84: Brian Plummer, Diary of a Rat Hunting ManChapter 85: Saxton Pope, Hunting With the Bow and ArrowChapter 86: Mikhail Prishvin, Nature's DiaryChapter 87: Steven Rinella, The Scavenger's Guide to Haut CuisineChapter 88: Teddy Roosevelt, Wilderness Hunter Chapter 89: John Rowlands, Cache Lake CountryChapter 99: Robert Ruark, Something of ValueChapter 91: Franklin Russell, The Hunting AnimalChapter 92: Ernest Thompson Seton, Lives of the HuntedChapter 93: Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson, A Woman TenderfootChapter 94: Paul Shepard, The Tender Carnivore and The Sacred GameChapter 95: Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, The Old WayChapter 96: John Vaillant, The TigerChapter 97: Brian Vesey-FitzGerald, It's My DelightChapter 98: T. H. White, The GoshawkChapter 99: T. H, White, Gone to GroundChapter 100: Colin Willock, The Gun Punt Adventure

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The curiosity of a studious, professional researcher erupts like a caddis fly from Boots's latest, Modern Trout Fishing. Simply stated, this is a bewildering array of information gleaned from astute sources and bundled enjoyably for the rest of us, the average anglers of the world."—Paul Bruun, outdoor columnist, Jackson Hole News & Guide "In Modern Trout Fishing, Boots Allen assembles information to give a superb reference for fly fishers. It also fills a void in current fly-fishing literature by gathering traditional and new background, presentation, fly pattern, tackle, retail, and media information under one literary roof. Boots's focus is on approach to Rocky Mountain fisheries, but what he offers applies to coldwater fisheries anywhere."—Bruce Staples, noted writer and 2001 Buzsek Award Winner "Few people have the passion and dedication committed to sharing the fly-fishing experience with one and all like Boots Allen."—Carter Andrews, former member of the Fly Fishing Team USA and renowned international gamefish guideTable of ContentsIntroduction: A history of fly-fishing with an emphasis on the progression of tactics. This book, Modern Trout Fishing, is the most recent in a long, aristocratic line of texts. Chapter 1: What Trout See, Hear, and Smell Part of what makes fly fishing so damn enjoyable is the way the sport lends itself to learning more about the environment, including characteristics of fish and wildlife. Studying the aural, ocular and scent traits of trout make you both a more astute, and better, angler. Chapter 2: Holding Water Understanding where trout hold, when, and why, will greatly increase ones chances at catching trout. Factors to consider include velocity and depth, temperature, oxygen levels, current breaks, and behavioral differences among various trout species. Chapter 3: Dry Fly Strategies and Tactics The most popular type of trout fishing, the factors to consider when dry fly-fishing include dead drift, avoiding drag, how best to approach holding water, the strip set (vs the “trout set”) and the mend. Tandem rigs offer variability to selectively feeding trout, and a proper cast assures the flies land appropriately. Chapter 4: Nymphing Strategies and Tactics Perhaps the most effective way to fish. It is becoming increasing popular because of new and improved tactics by modern fly fishers and a better exchange of info. The factors to consider include depth and line control, indicator vs. no indicator, dropper systems (standard dry-dropper, off-set), double, triple, and dropper loop riggings, and proper casts and presentations for a variety of situations. Chapter 5: Streamer Strategies and Tactics Traditionally, no type of fly fishing has been more overlooked, but advances in tackle and tactics has made it much more effective. It is important to understand depth and holding water as well as water column and thermocline factors. Critical factors include the use of the latest tackle, retrieval techniques, hook sets, and types of patterns (size, color, stinger, etc.). Chapter 6: Favorite Flies Traditional patterns are still very effective and serve as templates for many of the latest flies. Today, there is a lot of influence from saltwater, warm water, and anadromous fly fishing. The flies presented here I consider the most effective depending on one’s situation. Chapter 7: Conserving What We Have Despite over-fishing and the degradation of trout habitat, conservation efforts on the part of anglers have had a dramatic impact on protecting our fish. Still, there are more threats and a lot more to be done. Volunteering, contributing, lobbying, and being vocal are important individual tools.

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Book SynopsisThe Hatch is On! will be a celebration, in words and pictures, of fly fishing's most treasured insect emergences and the incredible angling experiences these hatches create.Table of ContentsEach short chapter will describe a famous insect hatch important to fly-fisherman. What makes this hatch a special angling experience? What fly patterns has it inspired? What is the story behind how some of the most famous flies came to be conceived? Each chapter will also feature color photos that graphically capture the spirit of the hatch—landscapes, insects, and/or flies. The following famed hatches are likely to be included in the book. (A final determination will come once interviews have been completed.) 1. Blue-Winged Olive2. Brown Drakes3. Caddis 4. Callibaetis5. Flying Ant6. Golden Stonefly 7. Grasshopper/Cicada8. Green Drake9. Hendrickson 10. Hexagenia11. Little Yellow Sally12. March Brown13. Mother's Day Caddis14. Mouse15. October Caddis16. Pale Morning Dun17. Salmonfly18. Skwala Stonefly 19. Sulfurs20. Tricorythodes (Trico) Each chapter will include an essay (1,200 to 1,500 words) describing, through interviews and research, the experience of fishing the hatch, the lifecycle of the bug in question, a description of a few of the rivers where hatches occur, and some of the famous flies that have been inspire by the hatch. There will also be at least one large landscape photo of each river, smaller photos of the insects and the flies it inspired, and a brief bio and photo of the principal interview for the chapter.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"I've never seen so much good advice in one place. All how-to fishing books should be written by people who work in fly shops."--John GierachTable of ContentsTable of Contents Fly Fishing Gear1. The Top 10 Things to Look For When Selecting a New Fly Rod2. The Top 10 Things to Look For When Selecting a New Fly Reel3. The Top 10 Things to Look For When Selecting a New Fly Line/Leader4. The Top 10 Things to Look For When Selecting New Boots/Waders5. The Top 10 Things to Look For When Selecting a New Vest or Pack6. The Top 10 Best Fly Fishing Accessories In Preparation7. The Top 10 Ways to Get What You Need At a Fly Shop8. The Top 10 Ways to Prepare For a Fly Fishing Trip9. The Top 10 Free Online Resources for the Fly Fisherman10. The Top 10 Best Ways to Save Money in Fly Fishing On The Water11. The Top 10 Best Ways to Increase Your Time on the Water12. The Top 10 Must Know Knots and Rigging Techniques13. The Top 10 Tricks of the Trade14. The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Fishing15. The Top 10 Rules of Etiquette16. The Top 10 Must Know Casting Techniques/Ways to Improve Your Casting17. The Top 10 Mistakes Made by Novices18. The Top 10 Ways to Take Better Fishing Photos Flies, Flies and Flies!19. The Top 10 Best Trout Dry Flies20. The Top 10 Best Trout Nymphs21. The Top 10 Best Trout Streamers22. The Top 10 Best Warmwater Flies23. The Top 10 Best Saltwater Flies Fly Tying24. The Top 10 Best Fly Tying Tools and Materials25. The Top 10 Best Beginning Tying Patterns26. The Top 10 Fly Tying Tricks Fly Fishing Destinations27. The Top 10 Best Western Fly Fishing Destinations 28. The Top 10 Best Eastern Fly Fishing Destinations29. The Top 10 Best Southern Fly Fishing Destinations30. The Top 10 Best Saltwater Fly Fishing Destinations31. The Top 10 Best Alaskan Fly Fishing Destinations

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Fishermen who strive for world angling records are of a strange and singular breed: part athlete, part artist, part predator, part mad scientist—and totally obsessed. In this entertaining and exciting book, author Andrew Vietze tells the stories of over a dozen modern-day Ahabs for whom landing the largest specimen of a particular species—everything from piranhas to largemouth bass to hammerhead sharks—looms larger than Mount Everest or the Nobel Prize." —Paul Guernsey, author of Beyond Catch & Release: Exploring the Future of Fly Fishing, and former editor of Fly Rod & ReelTable of ContentsTable of Contents Chapter 1 When Lester Anderson pulled a 97-pound king salmon out of the Kenai River on an Alaska fishing trip in 1985, he didn't think much of it. Oh, it was big, he'd spent an hour and a half landing it, and his brother-in-law Bud almost blew him out of the back of the boat when he started the motor, but it was just another fish. He and Bud got into the river, muscled it into their boat, and kept fishing for several hours. Then he left it on his lawn for a while. By the time someone told him he should weigh it, because it looked like a record breaker, it had probably lost 3 or 4 pounds due to dehydration. And it still broke the record. Chapter 2 Alfred Dean always said he wanted to catch the biggest fish in the sea. And he came as close as anyone ever has. The two largest fish are filter feeders and can't be caught on bait. But the next biggest – the Great White Shark – could. Remember Jaws? Dean reeled him in on a hand line in 1959. The Great White hunter has become something of a legend in his native Australia, and no one will ever catch a bigger Great White than his 2,664-pound giant, because the sharks have become a protected species. Alf Dean was the world's expert – of the seven largest of these maneaters ever caught on rod and reel, he bagged six, capturing three international records. Each weighed more than a ton. Then the Australian angler got his wish, landing the greatest of the great whites – his shark outweighs the next biggest fish in the world record book by more than 700 pounds. Chapter 3 Tom Healey probably has some words he'd like to say to Roger Hellen. Less than a year after setting a world record for Brown Trout on the Manistee River in Michigan, his fame and glory has fallen. Hellen caught a brownie in Wisconsin that tied him. The pair now share the record. Healey says, "I was a retired old guy looking for some peace and quiet on the river. And then all hell broke loose." As for Hellen, he not only tied a record but he won more than $10,000 in the process. Chapter 4. Albert McReynolds knows the sea. He grew up helping his grandfather, a boat captain, on his boat in Atlantic City, swabbing decks and mending nets and baiting traps - doing whatever it took to be allowed aboard. Back on land he worked in a nightclub and became friendly with Frank and Sammy, as in Sinatra and Davis, Jr. They tried to talk him out of returning to the water, but he eventually became a captain himself and ran his own boat. When he was 36 he was fishing from a jetty in the city – in the middle of a Nor'easter – and landed the biggest striped bass the world has ever known. And then everything fell apart. McReynolds believes the fish was cursed. He was accused of lying and cheating and faced death threats. A fellow angler even pulled a gun on him, he lost friends and money, and the fish was eventually stolen. "Over a F#$#(#(n' fish," he says. "I didn't catch the devil that night, the devil caught me." Chapter 5 It sounds like something out of bike racing or baseball: fish on steroids. Well, not quite, but artificially enhanced. When Saskatchewan angler Sean Konrad caught a 48-pound rainbow trout in a Canada Lake in September 09, he reeled in not only a world record but a big controversy. The rainbow trout at Lake Diefenbaker are stocked – with a farm-born genetically engineered species bred for size. Many fishermen say that should disqualify the fish. Konrad, however, knew this would happen. His twin brother, Adam, held the previous record, caught in the same place two years earlier. Chapter 6 When fishing for piranha, it's a good idea not to fall in. Just ask Russell Jensen of the Bronx, who landed an 8 and half pound black piranha in the Amazon one day in 2009. Not only does he hold the world record for black piranha but also for the largest catfish ever caught on rod and reel. He likes them ugly and dangerous. Chapter 7 On Highway 117 in Jacksonville, Georgia, is an historic marker. It reads: "Approximately two miles from this spot, on June 2, 1932, George W. Perry, a 19-year-old farm boy, caught what was to become America's most famous fish." The 22 pound largemouth bass broke the previous record by more than 2 pounds and has remained king for more than 70 years. It's the record everyone wants to beat. In 2009, Manubu Karita came close, landing a largemouth of exactly the same size in Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan. Chapter 8 Florida fishing guide Bucky Dennis has a bit of the Ahab in him. The 39-year-old caught a world-record-holding hammerhead shark off Tampa Bay in 2006, but he wanted more. He's always been competitive. As a kid, he wrestled. When he was older he raced dirtbikes in amateur motocross. As an adult he won snook tournaments. And he was determined to land another world beater. He got his wish in 2009, hauling in a 1060-pound hammerhead off the coast of his home state. ESPN showed up to take pictures and he got a slap on the back or two, but the catch was also extremely controversial. Many believed a shark that large – at that time of year – was likely to be pregnant, and no one wants little dead hammerheads. Dennis knew all this but decided to kill the shark so people would believe him – and in so doing he set off a firestorm of catch-and-release vs. blood sport arguments. Chapter 9 The record for the muskellunge has been one of the most hotly contested in all of fishing. Controversies have swirled. Scientists have tried to use mathematics to estimate the weight of muskies in old photos. Pinkerton Detectives have been hired to investigate. Books on conspiracies have been written. But for now Cal Johnson's 67.8 pound giant, caught just after a storm on Lac Court O'Reilles, Wisconsin, in 1949 reigns supreme. Chapter 10 Mike Livingston had been on the hunt for "super cows" – tuna weighing more than 300 pounds – for days. He didn't have many more before he had to leave Mexico and return to his home in Sunland, CA. And then it hit, the supercow of supercows – a 405.2-pound monster. Livingston spent more than two hours hauling it in. When the fish came in to port a massive crowd gathered to see it, and when it landed on the scales "it was like the SuperBowl." Chapter 11 When Townsend Miller was a small boy, he hooked a gar while fishing in Texas. The prehistoric-looking fish launched itself at him and hit him in the belly. Rather than being repelled, as so many fishermen are by the scaly, long nosed, razor-toothed monsters, Miller was fascinated. That day began a lifelong love of angling for gar. A navigator on bombers during World War II, Miller was something of a renaissance man. He was a stockbroker. Then he moved onto writing, championing many of the early Texas greats of country music. His love of music was honest – he was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame himself. For years he wrote columns for the Austin-American Statesman. He excelled as a hunter, was an avid baseball fan, and was passionate about gar fishing at a time when the rest of the world considered the ugly fish trash. Miller hooked some big ones, including a 7 foot 6, 165 pound alligator gar. But it was in July of 1954 that he reeled in a world beater – a 50 pound, 5 oz. longnose, the likes of which the world has never seen since. Chapter 12 Mabry Harper stares out of the black and white photo with the hint of a smile on his face, holding his world-record walleye before him, arms bent at the elbow, hands about shoulder length apart, gripping the tail and the gills. When he pulled the twenty-five pound fish out of a Tennessee Lake in August of 1960 he probably had no idea the controversies it would create. Over the next fifty years, magazines, wildlife agencies, and lots of jealous anglers would debate whether it was even possible to land a 25 pound walleye. Few of these members of the perch family seem to get near 20 pounds, especially in August, when they're swimming hard and fit, and the one in the photo just doesn't look girthy enough to pack that kind of weight. But IGFA says the record stands.

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Book SynopsisA history of hunting and fishing through excerpted documents and as "narrated" by Gray's Sporting Journal columnist Will Ryan, the first book of its kind.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Inside the Outdoors begins with an anecdote that sets the stage for a sketch of the "heart" of the book – that hunters and anglers ultimately bind the society they seek to escape. Chapter 1: Explorers, Naturalists and Early Sport Hunters "Ibis-shooting in Louisiana" by Anonymous, 1853. A look at recreational hunting and fishing circa 1850, this chapter will include a look at tall tales (Davy Crockett) and the naturalists (Bartram, Wilson, Audubon) and how this material suddenly held a commercial interest. Chapter 2: British Influence "Squaring the Keeper" by Francis Francis, 1880. This chapter will profile British hunting and fishing at mid-19th century, and show how early American outdoor writers drew from that experience and its literature. Francis's tale portrays the angler as a rascal worried about his reputation – to this day, an enduring persona for anglers the world over. Chapter 3: Outdoors as Escape. "Point Judith" by Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, 1865. Theodore Roosevelt's uncle marched to his own drummer, writing colorful hunting and fishing books while the Civil War raged. His were the first sporting books published in America, and they were bibles in their day, heavily influenced by British writers, but in the end more rollicking, scandalous (American) version of the outdoor life. Chapter 4:. The Business of Fun. "A Fight With A Trout" by Charles Dudley Warner, 1878. Coming of age during the Gilded Age, the American sporting experience emerged with a distinctly commercial dimension, beginning with sporting goods retailers who just happened to end up writers, too (Thaddeus Norris, John Krider, and others). Promotional magazine articles extolling the virtues of certain devices or locations were present nearly from the beginning. Regardless of century, Americans have always been able to smell the money. Part II Chapter 5: Conservation, Scarcity and the Sporting Ethic. "Climbing for White Goats" by George Bird Grinnell, 1894. Market hunting, increased participation in sport hunting and fishing, and environmental destruction all had a devastating impact on native stocks of fish and game. How to increase the numbers of sportsmen and the fish and game populations became a real problem, and Grinnell's story shows how sportsmen reframed scarcity as "elusive," "challenging," and therefore… "sporting." Chapter 6: Wing-shooting Gentlemen. "A Match at Chickens" by Edwyn Sandys, 1905. If the 19th century belonged to the big-game hunter, with tales of daring and brawn, the 20th heralded the wing-shooter, whose dexterity and quick-thinking seemed well matched to the new century. Grouse and duck hunters, following suit, increasingly waited for their quarry to take flight rather than ground swatting them or raking them on the water. Sport, put simply, became definable by the method used. Chapter 7: Fly fishing. "Plain Fishing" by Frank Stockton, 1888. This chapter continues the story of how fishing and hunting methods took on a social meaning, amidst growing tension between city sports and country folks. This tale involves a city fisherman who uses flies, and his country host who is the bait-fishing father of two comely daughters. After a weekend of country living, including a sermon of sorts on the pretension of fly fishing, the visitor comes to appreciate the beauty of "plain fishing." Chapter 8: A Travelin' Man. "Fishing for Black Bass on the Maumee Rapids" by J.E. Gunkel, 1896. Increasingly, midwestern bass fishing became a form of boosterism. In towns on the eastern Great Lakes, in fact, black bass became the face of the local economy, as in "Cape Vincent: Home of the Gamey Black Bass." This chapter will look at the rise of tourism, and also how this development related to the previous chapter's look at growing tensions between city sports and their small-town hosts, and to the regional elevation of certain species. Chapter 9: Guides. "After Grouse with Hiram" by Max Foster, 1906. One of the great ironies of the sportsman's search for manliness and virtue was that he often engaged a guide to aid in his quest, even as he (the sport) decided what the experience meant and what he needed to do method-wise to make it mean that. After all, the guys who lived in the country (i.e., the guides) knew where the grouse were. Almost invariably guides were treated as partners, nostalgia was used as salve for any tensions that might show, and money never changed hands. Chapter 10: Danger! "An Escape from Niagara Falls" by Orrin E. Dunlap, 1901. Hunting and fishing needed some element of actual danger in order to rise above simple child's play and confer manly virtues on the participants. The challenge became, at least in the minds of many, how to make sure the nation's men wouldn't get soft with all the sentimentality and citifying, and with no war to toughen them up. Chapter 11: Can I Go? "A Fatal Success" by Henry Van Dyke, 1913 What to do with the loved ones while you're busy fighting bears? Turn of the century stories typically featured women who outfished, outshot their male-companions (usually husbands, but often would-be husbands, in which case the heroine would typically swear off the rod or gun, having secured the catch she was after.) In "A Fatal Success" the woman not only boats the fish, she shows no sign of ever again staying home. Part III Chapter 12: Huntin' Camp. "That Ten-Point Buck" by Leonard DeWitt Sherman, 1912. Big-game hunters saw themselves following in path of Boone and Crockett, right down to building a cabin in the woods. As this chapter shows, deer camp became a two-week tradition associated with the white-tail deer, which in time would become the most prized game animal on the continent. Chapter 13: Front Page News. "A Lion Drive," by John T. McCutcheon, 1910. When former president Theodore Roosevelt celebrated his "retirement" with a well-publicized safari, The Chicago Tribune announced a safari of its own, one that would appear in serial form. Hunting and fishing was considered news of the highest order – particularly when they involved celebrity globetrotting. Chapter 14: Pushing Boundaries. "Great Sport: A Fishing Story," by Aimee Morrison, 1919. Hunting and fishing also became a way for Americans to do things "out there" they wouldn't do "in here." Increasingly, in the early 1920s, articles appeared by women on their own in the outdoors. This piece is a classic example of that change. Of particular interest is the idea that Ms. Morrison is a self-taught fly fisher, unescorted, in a sporting camp with boys who do their best to keep her out of the tree house. But she has more than enough pluck to make the club. Chapter 15: Life As We Know It. "Jean Pierre and the Mayflies" by Romilly Fedden, 1919. Outdoors as healing has been one of the great promises of the outdoor life since Boone kicked it with the Indians back in the 1700s, and came back whole. The aftermath of WWI gave us perhaps the greatest fishing story ever told, "Big Two Hearted River," Hemingway's haunting story of post traumatic stress, or "shell-shock," as it was known. The story profiled in this chapter was written by an Englishman in the trenches of World War I and is in the Nick Adams tradition of exploring how hunting and fishing had become a way to get a fellow's bearings. This chapter will show how, for an activity that began on the margins of society, fishing and hunting had now become a way to reconnect. Chapter 16: Modern Love. "Geese" by Rex Beach, 1921. The new outdoor story starts with a touch of fame (Max Foster and Grantland Rice are the hunting buddies in this piece), the desire for game, the fantasy of the perfect duck blind or boat or convenience, the tug of home – and the self-irony to understand how the entire experience was at once socially created and naturally human. Beach's story gives us that and, in many ways, offers a look at what the outdoor experience will become in the decades ahead.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The FishChapter 2: The CastsChapter 3: The Water BodiesChapter 4: NymphingChapter 5: Dry FliesChapter 6: Dry/Dropper FishingChapter 7: StreamersChapter 8: Wet Flies Chapter 10: Fly Fishing StillwatersChapter 11: In the Darkness

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Book SynopsisThe American Angler Guide to Warmwater Fly Fishing will be a quick and succinct handbook, presenting the essentials of this growing sport. A quick, demystifying read in which the beginning and intermediate angler will find everything they need to know.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Know Your Warmwater Fish Chapter 2: Warmwater Fly Fishing Equipment Chapter 3: Basic Fly Casting and Line Control Chapter 4: Structure and Cover Chapter 5: Fly Fishing for Bass Chapter 6: Panfish Chapter 7: Pike and Muskellunge Chapter 8: Stripers and Temperate Bass Chapter 9: Fly Fishing for Carp Chapter 10: Warmwater Fly Fishing Destinations

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Book Synopsis

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