Product Description
There's an old saying among fly fishers that equipment isn't the only thing, it's everything. But the best equipment in the world will catch few fish if you don't know how to use it. Experienced anglers with dimestore equipment can outfish the superbly equipped tyro every time--because they know how it's done.

With nearly fifty years of fly fishing to look back on, Tom McNally knows how it's done, from angling for tiny brook trout in mountain streams to fly casting for giant marlin in the open ocean--and everything in between. This book is the culmination of a long and respected career as one of the world's best-known outdoor writers--the collected knowledge of almost half a century of fly fishing condensed to fit between two covers. Here, in plain language, is a complete book of fly fishing from a complete fly fisherman.Amazon.com Review
In the wise words of Dame Juliana Berners, spoken fivecenturies ago yet just as immediate now, "there is more tofishing than catching fish." So begins The Complete Book ofFly Fishing, a combination primer-encyclopedia that is indeed afairly complete book--and without sacrificing depth for breadth. Earlychapters include the basics, such as history, equipment, andtechnique. McNally explains the differences between dry flies,nymphs, and wet flies, and how to approach these very different formsof fly-fishing. Insect hatches, stream tactics, and more advancedstrategies are also detailed with illustrations and colorphotographs. Final chapters cover less traditional quarry like bass,pike, and saltwater species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

I think a few photos in color was missing!
Has a very broad content for beginners. But one off the thinks that makes this fly art incredible is the surrounding, and in B&W you may get a little depress when you are reading it!

Complete is right!
just a quick word about this wonderful book: within two months of reading it, and having never fly-fished a day in my life, i took 23 creel-size trout in two days from Helton Creek, North Carolina. this book guided me throug the purchase of all my equipment, and instructed me on all the techniques in using it. in the nine months since i first read this book i have caught all three species of trout, countless pan fish, crappies, small- and large-mouth bass, and one baracudda. i highly recomend it to anyone interested in fly-fishing.

Great Book!
I'm reading this book right now and I love it!I used to read his articles years ago in Field and Stream and Outdoor Life and Sports Afield and I'd forgotten what a fine writer he was. I like the way he tells good stories while he's taking fishing and even though I can't yet get to some of the places he's writing about, he sure makes me want to be there. This is the sort of book that a book lover will enjoy and a book lover who is also a fly fisher will especially enjoy every bit of it! My husband, Tom, who is a writer himself, also has read it and is every bit as keen on it as I.

Disappointed Southern Fisherman
This book is listed as 368 pages. Thankfully there were only 349. I thought I was reading a novel. Each chapter began with a verbose, and usually self backpatting, 4-5 page introduction of the authors personal conquest while fly fishing. It took me so long to read, that I was out of time to return it. I sincerely believe the "meat" of this book could have been communicated in less than 200 pages, and probably less than 100 if color photos(other than the 10 pages in the center of the book that were of no benefit) were used. Actually, few photos of the "how to" were shown,the sketches carried most of the weight. Most of the black-and-white photos were of an already caught fish that bolstered the authors standing with his audience. L.L.Beans books are done and offer more info. Let's cut to the chase so that we can get back on the water. I would not recommend to beginner of advanced fishermen. I think that any book that includes fly tying or pictures of fishing flies commands color photos. How many fishing lures have you ever bought from a black-and-white catalog?

Many better books available
I am very disapointed with this book. McNally wastes a lot of time pumping himself up by telling us about how he won some distance casting contests back in his prime, how fly line used to be labeled when he first got intofly fishing, and other useless info. His section on fly casting is pitifuland provides no real information to a beginner. The funniest part is hisfly casting problems and remedies - I've seen better information on anindex card. His section on fly tying is also useless.

The final offenseis that in several pictures of trout, McNally describes how the trout washandled gently and released carefully. Then in the saltwater fishingsection, he catches a small dolphin and shows a picture of himself gaffingthe dolphin with a caption that reads "Dolphins are goodeating!".

McNally might be a great fly fisher but his book as awful.I would recommend the LLBean book over this one for beginners anyday. ... Read more

Product Description
"Rosenbauer enables the weekend warriorto fish more insightfully." —Booklist

This book, by America's oldest fishing tackle business, offers beginners a chance to learn thefundamentals of the great sport of fly fishingquickly and easily. The Orvis Guide toBeginning Fly Fishing can be the start of a lifetime journey of discovery that will increaseyour intimacy with the natural world and allowyou to gain skill and finesse in your flyfishing techniques.

Proven teachingmethods and bright, helpful illustrations willenable new fly fishers to:

• Find fish instreams, lakes, and salt water.

• Select and assemble proper, balanced tackle.

• Cast afly line with authority.

• Recognize andsimulate natural fish foods.

• Tie effective knots.

Orvis concisely explainsfishing ethics, offers helpful safety advice,defines basic angling terms, and convinces thenew angler that fly fishing couldn't be simpler or more fun. The Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing is a crisp, helpful, and finelyillustrated primer of the highest rank.

Customer Reviews (1)

OK for the price, though a little random
For $10, this is an OK book.Lots of little tidbits of fly fishing information that would only be considered an additive to a good introductory book like the LL Bean Guide (which I review under it's title). ... Read more

Product Description
Learn where to find and how to catch over 40 species of inshore fish that swim in the waters of the coastal United States. INSHORE SALT WATER FISHING provides a wealth of information from the editors and authors at Salt Water Sportsman Magazine. These are the guys who are out there doing it, and they pass their knowledge on to you in the pages of this book. Experts such as John Bownlee, Angelo & Abe Cuanang, Bob McNally, Al Ristori, Dave Vedder and Tom Waters, along with Salt Water Sportsman staff members Barry Gibson and Tom Richardson, give you all the information needed to catch more and bigger inshore fish.

Here's why every angler would love this book:

** It has interesting facts and information about the history and distribution of over 40 inshore species
** Includes advice from some of the biggest names in the salt water industry.
** Beautiful design and stunning photographs that compliment the two previous salt water titles in this series, SALT WATER FISHING TACTICS and STRIPED BASS: SALT WATER STRATEGIES.
** All of the information needed to catch inshore species during any time of the year, with tips and illustrations on how to fish with live bait, lures, and fly-fishing tackle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very informative
This is a great book for any level of fisherman. I have learned new tricks for fish I am very familar with, as well as fish I always wanted to learn about.Great pictures and maps.I keep it in my bathroom and have read it cover to cover over six times.A good buy.

Not that helpful
This book really isn't that helpful. While it does give some good tips on new ways to string your line, it only talks about maybe 20 or so kinds of fish, and spends most of its time talking about fish on the east cost. It devotes a very sparce space to the west coast and only talks about maybe 5 or so fish from the west coast. Overall, very disappointing. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Third time's the Charm!
This is the third book on this topic I bought. This one is great! My homemade lures actually catch fish now. The projects, while not exactly easy to complete, are clearly described and illustrated that I was (finally) able to get some nice plugs completed. The mystery of waterproofing, weighting and balance that eluded me from reading previous books, was revealed in these pages. Tips about using quality wood and techniques for spray painting were quite helpful. I even made a few extra for friends that were very interested in my lures.

good book
This is a good book the painting instructions are a little confusing but all in all a good book with lots if good ideas

Very interesting and useful book
All-in-all a very good book for anyone who wants to make wooden lures. I found this book very helpful in making my own lures, as it offers a different approach than I currently use. The techniques used do not require the use of expensive equipment or materials. The instructions and photos are clear and follow a well thought out step by step method. The book covers a nice selection of lure types to choose from. I have made many wooden lures and would recommend this book to others. ... Read more

Product Description
Mike Toth's second edition on the basics of fishing features expanded coverage of everything anglers need to know, from getting started and choosing and buying tackle to recording the catch hopefully. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good book
my brother-in-law and I both enjoyed learning some new tips and techniques from this book... we thought it was aptly named for us

Complete Idiots Guide to Fishing Basics
As a Senior who hasn't been fishing since I was a kid I found this book a great place to start, easy and understandable. Thank you.

Excellent primer for the fishing novice
This book was a good introduction to all kinds of fishing.I haven't been a big fisherman, but am looking to get a bit more involved in the sport, and this book was a great tool to get me familiar with some of the lingo, gear and methods.It was a very enjoyable read, written in a very easy style.I would strongly recommend this book to anybody who isn't very familiar with the sport but would like some basic information.

keep fishing for a better book
This book is pile of garbage it might have taken all of a weekend to put together.The actual amount of data in this book could fit on an 8x11 sheet of paper.Miserable waste of money.

Great Resource
Since I haven't been fishing in over 20 years, this book really does have about everything I needed in it.Sometimes a little too much information for my purposes, but more is better than not enough, right? ... Read more

Product Description
Collectors have been waiting for the newest book from Dudley and Deanie Murphy. In this volume of more than 3,500 lures shown in full color, the authors address the most collectible fishing lures made since 1940. In addition to the major 'Big Six' companies and miscellaneous lure makers, this volume, for the first time, provides insight into spinning lures, folk art lures, and the rapidly growing area of contemporary collectibles. Considered by collectors to be the most useful reference available on post 1940 vintage antique fishing lures, this volume takes a fresh approach to explaining the hobby. The reader will quickly discover the combination of significant historical information, realistic values, and crisp photography in a concise presentation to be a real asset in lure identification and values. This book is sure to be the most complete and convenient single volume on fishing lures available today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

GOOD RESOURSE TO MY LIBRARY
This work, as the title notes, includes lures from 1940 to a relative recent period.Do remember that lures change almost of a monthly basis with new products being introduced constantly. Also remember that NO WORK can possibly list them all. I recently added this volume to my collection and have been delighted.

First, I must confess that I do not use they type of lures that are featured in this wonderful book.I gave up this type of fishing years and years ago and only trout fish using flies now.Never-the-less, fishing gear, any fishing gear, absolutely fascinates me and I love looking at the stuff.But that is not the primary reason I own this and quite a number of other books of its ilk.

I have for years bought and sold these things; in part to make money, but more so because it is a nice hobby and I get to meet many nice people.When you buy and sell such things, I have found it is best to know a bit about them.This work goes along way in assisting me in this need for knowledge.There is a lot of money to be made in this hobby, but conversely, there is a lot of money to be lost if you know not what you are doing.

Secondly, I paint and draw.One of my primary subjects for still-life paintings and drawings is fishing lures.Now always having the actually lure in front of me is a bit of a handicap, and to be frank quite impossible because some of these fishing lures are quite rare and I have absolutely no access to them, but lacking the best thing, i.e. the actual lure, the photographs in this work are by far the second best thing to use.The color is extremely accurate as is the quality of the photographs; sharp, clear and detailed.I have found that the measurements provided by the authors to be extremely accurate. Using this work, I am able to reproduce very nice reproductions on canvas, paper or what ever material I choose...I have even used gourds from time to time.The clear and concise text accompanying each photograph provides invaluable information, both technical and background wise.

I like my paintings to be as accurate and authentic as possible and this work gives me the edge I need.

Now the only warning I might give to those who contemplate purchasing this work is that the prices or worth assigned to each lure can be misleading.As with any other collectable or antique, any given piece is only worth what someone is willing to give for it or willing to part with it for.Yes, the prices given here do give you a ballpark figure and a starting point, but just because the book states the lure is worth a thousand dollars and you find one in your grandfather's lure box, does not mean that you will be able to run out the door and sell it for that much.Likewise, if you plan to buy a particular piece, I certainly would not start the bargaining process at the prices given here.But all that is common sense and really does not distract from this work what so ever. NO BOOK gives you prices that are written in stone!Trust me, I know about such matters. Another warning her for the would be collector: Due to the price of some of these objects, there is a very large knock-off and counterfeit market out there right now...do be careful and do your homework.Some of these people are quite good at what they do!

The book is well arranged by manufacturer, maker or company and it is rather easy to find what you are looking for.Do keep in mind that no one book can possibly cover all of the thousands upon thousands of lures that have been manufactured or hand made over the years, but hey...you have to start somewhere.I also like the way the authors have included the history of these item which is an education within itself.

On the less practical side, this is just a fun book for those interested in such things to simply brows through.Many wintery evening can be spent going over this work using it as either a "wish list" or just for the pure joy of seeing and learning.You know, if you look at it from a certain angle, the reader can learn much concerning the minds of men and the minds of the fish he or she pursues just by looking at what has been created to try to lure these tricky critters onto the stringer.

If this is an area of interest for you, then this is one of those must have books to add to your collection and I do highly recommend it.

useful to anybody collecting old lures
I am very happy with this book and another companion book by the same author.This book is a very useful reference to the range of lures manufactured through recent times.I refer to it all the time when I am buying fishing lures on ebay etc. I can't compare it to other books as these are the only lure collecting books that I own.Great photos too.

Strongly recommended to all collectors of lures, as well as general fishermen
Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia Of The Modern Era, 1940 To Present by Dudley and Deanie Murphy is an in-depth illustrated compendium showcasing the great variety of fishing lures which have been developed from 1940 to the present time. Featuring the many intricate details and specifics which characterizes each of the presented lures, Fishing Lure Collectibles introduces the reader to literally hundreds of lures along with such details as their name, date released, length, a color photograph, short notes, and a price value, Fishing Lure Collectibles really delves into an unknown analysis of the world of fishing lures and their historical background. From the Glitter Bug released in 1944 to the Redhorse Spearing Decoy in 2003, Fishing Lure Collectibles truly is the ultimate guide and encyclopedia of fishing lures since the year 1940, and is very strongly recommended to all collectors of lures, as well as general fishermen.
... Read more

Product Description
The "lure bible" is back and better than ever! This mammoth guide, now with 2,500 full-color photos, delivers all the pricing, details and lure advice serious collectors want, from a name they trust and admire.

This 7th edition features more than 5,000 listings, complete with collecting data and updated prices for everything from the Plunking Dinger to the Creek Chub Mouse. Collectible lures from Heddon, South Bend, Paw Paw, Pflueger, Creek Chub, Shakespeare and more are featured in this trusted reference. The familiar style of the late Carl Luckey and Clyde "The Bassman" Harbin Sr. is carried on by the next generation with Tim Watts, Harbin's grandson, serving as contributing editor. With the last three editions of this book boasting a combined 86,500 copies sold, this new edition continues the tradition lure enthusiasts have come to trust.

-5,000 different lures listed

-2,500 full-color photos for easy identification

-Contains lures from leading North American lure manufacturers ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Old Fishing Lures & Tackle: Identification and Value Guide (Old Fishing Lures and Tackle)
Excellent book....exactly what we were looking for...in perfect condition!!!Thanks so much.It does just what it says - lets you know the values of older lures.

BUYER BE AWARE:
You will almost certainly want to own this undeniably excellent book, for it remains the best of its ilk. HOWEVER, no actually published copy of it (the 7th, current edition) is actually "All Color;" it does NOT include "2,500 full-color photos." Not only did I order and receive a new copy via an "Amazon Marketplace" seller, but also I (subsequently) ordered and received a new copy directly from Amazon. In each instance the book I actually received was what I'll describe in the next two paragraphs.

Only after I finally phoned this book's publisher (Krause Publications) was I eventually informed (a couple of days later) that the front-cover image displayed (as of this writing) at the top of Amazon's webpage for this product is NOT identical to the actually published book. Instead, in the upper-right corner of the front cover, the actual book says: "1500 Color Photos." Moreover, on the actual book there's no circular "inset" (graphic) at the upper-right within the front-cover photo.

On the rear cover of the actual book it says "1,500 color photos" and "more than 5000 listings and updated prices." As you turn the pages of the book, you'll generally see from one to several COLOR photos, but the rest of the photos on that page will be black-and-white. Overall, an impressively high percentage (but far from all) of the photos are color. Moreover, ALL the lure photos are sufficiently sharp and pleasing. [Nonetheless, I do hope that all FUTURE editions will be ENTIRELY in color; competing lure books (encompassing, however, significantly fewer lure listings) already have adopted ALL-COLOR formats.]

I suspect that the aforementioned webpage discrepancies in the cover art and text description of this 7th edition weren't the fault of any independent vendors (e.g., Amazon); most likely the publisher didn't provide entirely correct information to the vendor (?). In any case, the publisher's representative also mentioned to me (in an email) that they would be notifying Amazon about that situation. I hope so.

Nonetheless, I repeat that this 7th edition is a (or, arguably, "the") book that virtually anybody interested in collectible fishing lures absolutely SHOULD own. [That said, the content of the comparably sized 5th (1999) and 6th (2002) editions of Old Fishing Lures & Tackle: Identification and Value Guide aren't all THAT far behind and could still merit consideration in their own respective rights--except that their lure-pricing information isn't nearly as current. But I don't any longer recommend any edition earlier than the 5th, primarily because there's just not nearly as many lure listings.]

A must have for collectors and sellers
If you only buy one book on vintage and collectable lures, this is the one!

old lures
This is a very helpful book on pricing lures. I take every time I go to a sale. I so know how much to pay.

Reference book
Great book if you are into collecting and/or buying and selling fishing lures. Tons of info, pictures, and values of lures. Definately worth every penny. ... Read more

Product Description
A detailed history of the development of fishing reel technology and fascinating stories of the notable manufacturers who produced them are related here. Fly casting, bait casting, spinning, and spin casting reels produced in America and Europe during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are shown in over 180 fine photographs and drawings. Reels produced by famous manufacturers are shown, including J. C. Conroy and Company*TM, William Mills*TM, Julius Von Hofe*TM, and the Kentucky reel smiths B. F. Meek & Sons*TM and B.C. Milam*TM. Current market values are provided in tables. This book will be prized by anyone who has ever cast a line out over the water on a cool, still morning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great stuff
I have a brother that is a fishing fanatic . This was a requested gift.
I have heard back that he loves it and has been able to identify reels that he has collected through the years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Best Fishing Book for Kids!
I bought this for my son for his birthday. He is obsessed with fishing and LOVES this book. The pages are so colorful and there are all kinds of neat hidden little words all over the drawings. He is six years old and it is one of the few books he will actually sit down with on his own!

Review of Small fry Fishing Book
Thought it was a very cute, informative book.Got one for each of my grandsons as they enjoy fishing with their grandpa.

Buck Wilders Fishing Guide
This is another in the Buck Wilder series that entertains young readers. Our reader is 6 and absolutly loves these books! They never tire of finding new items on the pages of these books and return to them often.

"Sure to be a favourite book"
I bought this book for my grandson when he was four (he's now nine) and he just called to tell me that it is his "all time favourite book".He has just become a Cub Scout and was asked to bring his favourite book to the next meeting and this is the one he chose.His father loves fishing, camping, boating and working outdoors whenever he gets a chance.My grandson seems to be following in his footsteps and the Buck Wilder books are perfect for him.The pages contain a myriad of pictures and information, well drawn and thought out so that there is something of interest and new to be discovered from the age of four to whenever??I (and my grandson) highly recommend this book and the others in the series for your boys and I'm sure that girls would like them too if they love nature and the outdoors.

Wonderful book to create a spirit of adventure for children.
Children love adventure, and Buck Wilder is a wonderful character thatinspires the spirit.Even if your children have never ventured to the lakeor stream with a fishing pole, Buck will make them wish they could find afavorite pond today.My children loved the characters and even had anadventure reading dozens of tips that are written along the borders of thebook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ice Fishing Secrets
Great book for all levels (especially beginers), easy to read, and understand! Full of usefull, and current information.Tells you every thing from low money set ups, to high end gear. Tons of good pictures and drawings, and has a complete list of where to buy every item the they talk about in the book. It is written buy guys who fish the Mid-West, but I found it really usefull for here in New England!

got ya covered!
In-Fisherman's "ICE FISHING SECRETS" is an excellent choice for novice or advanced hard-water anglers. They cover so many topics; from locations to equipment, bait and lures, multiple species, and different types of water patterns. These guysare enthusiasts, and have experienced all facets of the ice fishing game. I don't think any avid ice angler could ever go wrong here. I refer to it numerous times each season, bothfor information, and pleasant "story-telling" type reading. If you've tried ice fishing, this will help. And if you haven't, this should convince you to give it a go! These experts really "cover" it all, when the grips of winter cover your favorite fishin' spots. The action no longer ends in December. It just heats up! ... Read more

Product Description
Matt Labash has regularly regaled us with his incisive wit, self-deprecation, and provocative candor. Blessed with his uncanny ability for extracting comic humanity from even the wariest politicians, con artists, and rogues, as well as for shedding light on the darkest corners of our American experience, Labash is a singular talent, and Fly Fishing with Darth Vader for the first time assembles his best feature writing, showcasing the true breadth of his work.

Labash's masterful profiles of the outsized and outrageous characters who populate America's murky periphery -- Pirate Kingfish Governor Edwin Edwards, Recovering Crackhead Mayor Marion Barry, Dirty Trickster Roger Stone -- are published alongside devastating pieces on the dying cities of our nation such as Detroit and New Orleans. His hilarious tirades on the health hazards of Facebook and the virtues of dodgeball seamlessly segue into stories celebrating such joyous but overlooked pockets of American culture as old-timey gospel and the musicians of the Big Easy's Second Line. He chronicles Al Sharpton's eating habits on the campaign trail, fishes the Snake River with Dick Cheney, and investigates the "great white waste of time" that is our neighbor to the north.

Full of his signature insight and humor and marked by Labash's trenchant grasp of the American scoundrel, Fly Fishing with Darth Vader is the long-awaited debut collection by one of the funniest and most gifted journalists writing today, sure to be cherished and talked about for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good to the Last Page
Humor, scandal, and/or empathy writers usually wear thin before the third chapter - their talent isn't that good, or the material is a badly dated collection of material most no longer have any interest n. Not so with Matt Labash - he's good to the last page, even though the material is a wee bit old.

Labash begins with "Detroit - The City where Sirens Never Sleep," and tells of schools that haven't ordered new textbooks in 19 years and the lowest high school graduation rate of any large district (24.9%), a city with half the population of 1950 and an estimated 60,000 vacant houses that once gave its key to the city to Saddam Hussein. Where 47% of adults are functionally illiterate, the local football team was 0-14, and the populace has been honored as America's 'fattest city,' and its 'sexual disease capital.' The sirens never stop - driven by arson in abandoned homes, factories; its abandoned train station may be next. At the same time, Labash also visits with a homeless person living under a bridge, and possessing more common sense than most of those driving overhead.

The title, "Fly Fishing with Darth Vader" obviously refers to V.P. Cheney. Expecting a nasty hit piece, I instead found a delightful story of another side of Mr. Cheney - an ordinary guy with a strong interest in fly-fishing and those who do it. It's all 'catch and release' - even the trout come out good, and I can't wait to see more the great Wyoming scenery described by Labash as he fly-fishes with the V.P.

Other treats include the life of an evangelical wrestler, and executives and managers acting like kids in an effort to keep employees happy so they, in turn, keep customers happy. It's "The Office" all day long, an antidote to dour-faced efficiency experts and sophomoric business guru cliches - all backed up by 'research' and stories told by funsultants.

In between, Labash also writes with empathy of his visits with a 9/11 widow.

Labash is truly a multi-faceted writer, a man with a wide range of talents.

A Smorgasbord of Tasty Delicacies
This is a collection of twenty-three of Mr. Labash's previously published magazine articles from "The Weekly Standard" and "Salon." The reader has his or her choice about whether to sample humorous entrees of such items as "Detroit: The City Where the Sirens Never Sleep", "Yippie Kay Oy Vey: Kinky Friedman Runs fro Governor", "Arnold Uber Alles: The Wild, Final Days of the Schwarzenegger Campaign", "Trump on the Stump", "Rev Gotta Eat: Al Sharpton's Hungry for a Place at the Table, " or "Fly Fishing With Darth Vader."
Naturally, after looking over the entire buffet, I went directly to the items that seemed to wet my appetite the most--the desserts. I chose two spicy dishes of tarts and cheesecake appropriately entitled "Among the Pornographers."
"This odd assemblage has gathered for a four-day World Pornography Conference in the Universal Sheraton, amid the strip-mall sprawl of the San Fernando Valley, porn production capital of the world. The meeting is sponsored by the Center for Sex Research at California State University, Northridge--a sort of Left Coast Kinsey Institute."
More than 500 "academics--sociologists, anthropologists, sexologists, film and gender studies teachers, and interdisciplinary seekers from across the country--are attending under the guise of studying `Eroticism and the First Amendment.' But the real aim is simpler: to celebrate pornography." The place is awash in exotic porn stars and samples of the world of porn. The various college types hope to vastly improve their own college or university's collection of porn. The Northridge Center is hoping "to get more [Pornography] deposits from the industry--so we'll have the biggest porn collection in the country."
"Academics, it seems, are the only people who can de-eroticize sex more completely than pornographers."
This reprint of the satirical magazine article was a laugh, or at least a chuckle riot. Having wet my appetite I returned to the buffet table and decided to taste a dish labeled "Down with Facebook!" This article points out that "'Time' magazine recently declared Facebook more popular than porn. But who are they kidding? Facebook is porn. With porn, you watch other people take off their clothes and abase themselves in public. On Facebook, where there's technically an anti-nudity policy (thus defeating the whole purpose of the Internet), you get to figuratively do the same."The author then proceeds to build a case against the social networks as a very dangerous form of suicide for too many of its "Facetards." For the addicted, there is nothing that they won't post on their Facebook page. It's costing many of them jobs as more and more employers check the Facebook pages of prospective employees.
Beginning to sate my appetite, I decided to have a main dish of "The Wild, Final Days of the Schwarzenegger Campaign." After stuffing myself on beefcake enhanced with steroids I then returned to the smorgasbord to enjoy the headliner dish from the front of the book's cover--fresh 22-inch long Mountain trout caught in Wyoming by Darth Vader, the nickname for Vice President Dick Cheney.
Labash hoped to use his mutual love of fly fishing to discover how the legendary closed mouth and secretive Vice-President reached his political decisions. He got his day long, eight-hour interview while floating lazily along the river with Cheney, who catches twenty-two fish to his two, but all he discovered is that Cheney is not only an expert fly fisherman who gets really excited about the sport, but that he loves the natural beauty of the Snake River and the wilds of Wyoming, Idaho and other beautiful and inaccessible fishing havens around the planet. Surprisingly, Labash allows his readers to realize that Dick Cheney would be the very last person in the world who would wish to despoil the environment.
On one fly fishing trip a "young man who worked for the Idaho Fish and Game" jumped out of the bushes and checked to see if everyone had their fishing license.Even though he was reading Dick Cheney's license while he looked him directly in the face, he failed to recognize the Vice-President. Labash didn't mention whether the clueless ranger eventually put two and two together and made the connection when he checked the licenses of the flotilla of trailer boats following Cheney that were packed with wetsuit clad Navy Seals and a small army of heavily armed secret service agents. Who knows he probably wanted to see their hunting and fishing licenses?
Finally, stuffed with broiled Snake River cutthroat trout, I decided to stop eating even though some of the desserts at the end of buffet still looked particularly inviting. All the glassy eyed professors were still ogling the porn star tarts and wanting to pose for photos with their arms around them.
The buyers of this humorous collection of yummy, fluffy soul food book won't be disappointed. Even "Rev Gotta Eat!" Matt Labash is like another Dave Barry or P.J. O'Rourke and the latter added a testimonial to the book that is printed on the cover. "Matt Labash's Book Rocks. He is Hunter S. Thompson on Acid." Hum I thought; I didn't see any acid on either the buffet table or at the bar. I must have been distracted with my own ogling of the beautiful porn tartists and all the intoxicating, luscious and surgically enhanced cheesecake.

Interesting
Well, I bought this book just because somebody recommended it.I actually, thought it was a book of fly fishing stories.Well, there was one, with Dick Cheney (Darth Vader) which was interesting.Personally, I like Cheney.He put America first and never pretended to be a friend to anyone, unless they really were.He was America's Winston Churchill, without the thoughtfully crafted speeches.

I guess Matt Labash is trying to make a living as a political satirist, much like Hunter S. Thompson, or P.J. O'Roark, both of who are masters of the game.Sadly though, I think Matt gets off on bashing the very blue collar people he seems to claim to represent.Much like the "documentary" film maker Michael Moore, who really just beats up the very working class people he claims to be fighting for, he uses them in the end for the butt of his jokes.Moore's films are really just black humor, and like Moore, I think this writer likes poking fun at the very disease he is trying to treat.

Normally, this would be funny.But it isn't anymore.Making fun of Detroit isn't funny anymore when most major American cities are resembling that imploded wreck of humanity on a rusty zit.At this point, we all need to look in the mirror and take a good hard look at what we have become: a jaded, morose, imbibing, drug-seeking, deteriorating society marinating in the filth of our own excess.

Observer of the absurd
Matt Labash is an extremely out of the ordinary writer and observer. His book contains 23 of his pieces ranging from the terribly devastating chapter on Detroit that is more than pitiful in its' descriptions of the conditions there, that you can't help laughing in the awfulness of its accuracy. He visits New Orleans and the dreadful effects of Katrina. He follows a luddite's path down the facebook road and down the Snake River with Dick Cheney... the Darth Vader of fly fishing.
We learn the physical damage? that dodge ball has done our nation's children, of course with the added `horrors ` of duck duck goose and musical chairs, actually citing studies form the Department of Health.
Lovers of Canada and Gordon Lightfoot- Labash has you in his sights as well.
He writes an startlingly sympathetic portrait of Marion Barry and one of the seriously most affecting accounts of9/11 with the story of Edlene LaFrance whose husband died in the collapse of the Twin Towers.
There is the humorous, the interesting and some sorrow; but always interesting reading in this book.

A fun ride
The book is a collection of long form journalism stories most of which were originally written for the Weekly Standard. Despite what you might think though if that was your only knowledge the book is 1. Not really a political book in any partisan sense and 2. Quite edgy. The book starts with a portrait of Detroit, that is compelling but perhaps uneccesarilly hopeless and ends with a piece on New Orleans which was my favorite in between are a number of pieces on political eccentrics including Donald Trump, Al Sharpton, Jim Traficant, Marian Berry and fringe California gubernatorial and presedential candidates. Sprinkled in between are stories about topics ranging from a pseudo-academic porn convention, dodgeball, facebook, a cd collection of spirituals, and a dailykos bloggers convention in Vegas. Throughout Labash is funny and insightful. Occasionally he does veer towards being too cynical such as in the piece about the Kos convention, though it should be noted that his objections had more to do with the form of communication on Kos and not the content perse.

A WSJ article I read compared Labash to Tom Wolfe or Hunter Thompson. I can't speak for the Thompson, comparison but the Wolfe comparison while not completely off base is a little misleading. Most of Labash's works have a much more overtly comedic tone to them Wolfe's writings, think of it as being like Joel Stein doing long form journalism. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive book goes way beyond the basics of drift-fishing techniques to include marine biology, ichthyology, meteorology, and physics as they apply to fish and fishing.Kusherets covers; species identification and anatomy; gear; set-ups; reading water; different drifting styles and techniques; understanding fish; spotting fish; troubleshooting; using the Internet; filleting your catch; extensive glossary; and more.The unique, yet down-to-earth advice in this book will bring more fish to your line. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Drift-Fishing Treasure
I'm a huge fishing fan and have to say that I've never seen a book like this. In a scant 100 pages the material covers more insights than all other drift fishing books I've read. I had no idea how complicated reading water could be and how simple it is to understand before reading this book. The color photographs, with illustrations, makes deciphering water something comprehensible that any angler can appreciate. The value of reading water is something I can take anywhere Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout are found...it's wonderful! And it works on any type of water I've fished be it stained or crystal clear. The detailed information of fishing techniques is concise yet informative enough that I can now fish multiple techniques on the same fishing trip, though of course not at the same time. The essential gear chapter is outlined in a chronological order, I surmise, in the way of importance; of immeasurable value is how to purchase them cheaply and then how to apply them all.I love the stories at the front of the book and how Mr. Kusherets came to embrace this particular fishing discipline.
He also covers how to detect those elusive strikes, which I've never seen in another book: mainline, leaders, and weights all marry together for strikes you can actually see while on the water. Who knew?
His insights were gathered from going out and experimenting, which is something that had never occurred to me prior to this book. The Glossary of Terms and Definitions at the back of the book finally gives me the vernacular that seems to be closely guarded by other authors and expert anglers. I love this book and look forward to reading more; though my copy is dog-eared it is a treasure.

This book SUCKS!
Between 2001-2005 alot of new "fishing books" came out....lets face it, durring this time of record fish runs in the pacific northwest, anyone could become an "expert". It was not hard to catch salmon/steelhead. This guy must be writing his own reviews....because this is the worst salmon/steelhead fishing book i have ever read. (its not mine, i bought it in a rush last christmas as a gift for my brother inlaw) First off, the tittle is missleading....salmon is in the tittle yet NO WHERE does he talk about driftfishing for salmon. He must just assume that since he has caught a few dark salmon while driftfishing for steelhead that they are one in the same....theyre not! Also, he starts the book buy bashing one of his friends, telling a story where the first time he went "driftfishing" with him that he was "sure" his friend was snagging.....he even explains his friends setup, witch is clearly a plunking setup. He was just jealous. He said that durring this trip, while his friend was "snagging", he had caught and realeased 7 salmon. But in the next few paragraphs he said he was going to do some "research" to help him on how to figure out "drift fishing".....uhhhh, you just said you caught and released 7 salmon???? And you dont have it figured out???


There is also lots of pictures of him with dark/spawned out fish. He also admits that alot of the pictures are of people he ran into on the bank. One picture on page 76 is just rediculous. A guy holding up about a 50lb dead dark chinook. I hope it spawned out before he caught it. Pathetic. I cannot believe that AMATO Publications put this one out. There are alot better books on Amato publications....read bill herzogs or Scott haugens books. Leave this one on the rack. IT SUCKS!

A Must Have Book for Every Serious Angler
I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about drift fishing in general and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and amount of information contained in the book. This book is one of the best angling books I've ever read and not only does it cover drift fishing rigs and techniques in detail, but covers other valuable information as well.

Whether or not you want to learn how to drift fish, this book deserves a a place in every angler's library.

While other books do cover trout anatomy, none do it in such detail.This book goes over every aspect of trout anatomy so that you even learn how to tell the difference between male and female trout - and important skill for anglers wanting to help ensure they release female trout to help preserve the fishery.

This book is also one of the best I've seen with information on reading rivers (another important skill for all river and stream anglers).While other books do teach this, this book is unique in the quality of photos that accompany the information.In fact, this book is filled with high quality photos throughout all it's pages (a real advantage for those who may not have seen or used some of the equipment discussed before).

Other information contained in the book include tips for drift fishing tackle, rigging options, different drift fishing techniques, tips for recognizing subtle strikes and setting the hook, and even detailed info and pictures for filleting your catch!

It's obvious from page one that the author knows what he's talking about and has information to share for beginners as well the advanced angler.

I'd highly recommend this book to any and all trout anglers (beginners and advanced alike)!

Poorly edited and disjointed
I bought this book to learn the basics of west coast steelhead drift fishing. While it started out OK, and the author seems to have a lot of knowledge, the book was a disappointment. It is so poorly edited it looks like several articles, pieces of articles, and even sentence fragments were swept off of someone's desk and into a book jacket, given a cursory spell check, and published. There are misspelled words, sentences that appear to mean one thing and say the opposite, and some phrases are repeated 3-4 times verbatim in different parts of the book. The photos do not have reference numbers (e.g. figure 1, 2, etc.) which would really help to be sure which one the author is talking about. And the author seems to assume that the reader already knows what a 'drift rig' is. It's a shame that between the author and Amato publishing that the editorial process got such short shrift. I would not recommend this book.. there must be better ones on this topic.

So Many Fish, and it's only the second season!
Thank you! Your book saved me a lot of time and money. I'm new to the sport and two seasons of catching some fish and wow I can't believe the difference.
The fish handling in your book opened my eyes, and to my friends, and we leave the nets at home. Thanks again for the education lesson! It is truly worth all your efforts.
... Read more

Product Description
Completely revised and updated, Fly Fishing in Northern New Mexico is a comprehensive guide to more than thirty streams and twelve lakes. This revised edition contains new, specialized information on access, equipment, stream characteristics, trout species and size, timing of insect hatches, as well as artificial fly patterns likely to result in success. Local anglers and visitors alike will be able to plan more productive outings while exploring new fishing areas and different species of fish.

From the trophy waters of the San Juan and Rio Grande to the Chama and the Brazos, New Mexico is home to more than four thousand miles of cold-water streams teeming with cutthroat, brown, rainbow, and brook trout. With the state's year-round fishing season, anglers can find water matched to any level of skill and style of fly fishing.

In addition to chapters devoted to specific streams and lakes, the book includes detailed maps, important information on regulations, the fishing year, and environmental concerns. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

great
Great information from a man who has actually fished the waters.Don't get me started on catch - and - release...

Fly fishing northern NM
Good descriptions, nice details, maps could have been a little more inclusive.

Great book for anybody interested in fishing New Mexico
This book is essential to anybody that is interested in fishing northern New Mexico. It gives you all the info that you could need including locations, best time of year to fish any certain location, fly patterns for certain rivers and lakes and much more.DO NOT look any further for all the information you need on fly fishing northern New Mexico.

Definitive Guide for Northern New Mexico
As a new Fly fisher I bought this book when it was first published. This book has become an indispensible guide for my fly fishing. Recently I used the information for a stream in the Jemez Mountains and had a very productive day. The maps are very good. The information is right on as well. If you come to New Mexico to fly fish this is the book to have to increase your enjoyment!

Fly-Fishing in Northern New Mexico
Having grown up, lived-in and travelled extensively in this area, this book is a must-have for any fly fisherman interested in Northern New Mexico.The maps, hatches and river recommendations are on the mark -- highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description

Death, Taxes, and Leaky Waders collects forty of John Gierach's finest essays on fishing from six of his books. Like all his writing, these essays are seasoned by a keen sense of observation and a deep knowledge and love of fishing lore, leavened by a wonderfully wry sense of humor. Gierach often begins with an observation that soon leads to something below the surface, which he finds and successfully lands. As Gierach says, writing is a lot like fishing.

This is the first anthology of John Gierach's work, a collection that is sure to delight both die-hard fans and new readers alike. To enter Gierach's world is to experience the daily wonder, challenge, and occasional absurdity of the fishing life -- from such rituals as the preparation of camp coffee (for best results, serve in a tin cup) to the random, revelatory surprises, such as the flashing beauty of a grayling leaping out of the water. Whether he's catching fish or musing on the ones that got away, Gierach is always entertaining and enlightening, writing with his own inimitable blend of grace and style, passion and wit.Amazon.com Review
There are two things no dedicated fly-fisher can really haveenough of: a decent selection of flies on the stream and a decentselection of John Gierach off of it. Death, Taxes, and LeakyWaders should go a good way toward satisfying the latter. In this"greatest hits" of essays culled from Gierach's previous collections,the genial wit and astute observer behind Another Lousy Day inParadise, Dances with Trout,and Trout Bumreels in 40 of his favorite keepers. Considering the quality ofGierach's writing, calling Headwaters a "treasury" is no fishtale at all.

Reading Leaky Waders is like recalling somememorably productive afternoons on the stream with an old fishingbuddy. Writing about his sport and his adventures, Gierach isnaturally writing about much more: "I've always tried to figure outwhat a story is about," he'll admit readily. "It's something otherthan the fishing but that wouldn't have come up without thefishing." As in "The Purist," an essay from The View from RatLake: it's vintage Gierach, an excuse to use fishing to open awindow onto human nature. "What is it about fly-fishing," he asks,

that attracts ... those people who must engineer a cornerof their lives--sometimes a pretty large corner--where things have tobe done properly? I'm not sure I know, but whatever it is, it's whythe sport can be used to define the very existence of thepractitioner.

Customer Reviews (10)

you just MUST...really...you MUST
I own 16 of his books. This one is just as great as the others and a good one to start with if you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading John G.

It's hard to overstate the pleasure you'll get from this book.He's truly a gift we all get to share.

Now This Is It!!!!!!
Geirach is at his best in this book, granted it is a collection of his best. This group of stories span a wide swath of his career, and as a result, allow the reader to see some evolution in the author's thinking and manners. One thing you should observe as you read these stories is that Geirach evolves from pure counter-culture hippie, turned fisherman, into the a true outdoorsman. An outdoorsman is one who loves the outdoors for being outdoors, not because they enable him to flaunt middle-class expectations of respectability. Anyone who is so worried about following middle-class standards of living should have the courage to flaunt them without the justification provided by fly-fishing. You see this evolution occur in Geirach's writings across time. With later writings you see someone who loves fishing because he can be fishing. This may not be important to some, but it is to me as I would hate to contribute to the overabundance of writers who help convince me that my local fishing hole is so insignificant. Anyway, as always, he is funny and the stories are very great, but not too preachy. Get it and slip away to the Frying Pan for a few hours.

Great collection of Gierach's work
This was a great collection of Gierach's essays from some of his previous books.As always, they were a very enjoyable read, and not just for the flyfishing material.

This would be a perfect introduction to John Gierach for anyone who loves flyfishing, the outdoors, or just some good writing about a subject that the author clearly loves.If you are buying as a gift, note that the essays are taken from six of his older books.It didn't stop me from appreciating the gift, even though I had already read three of the others!

Great Outdoor Book
Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders

Time, little pieces of forever crumbling into tomorrow, so fleeting so fast, so damn close to April 15th and tax day. I received a letter from the IRS, and after a big breath, and popping a fresh load of buckshot into the old 12 gauge, I decided to read it. Appears the government is giving me $600 of my own money back in order to stimulate the economy. They could have saved a stamp and given me $600.41 cents back, or better yet, left it in my pocket. I would have tickled the economy by buying food, books, and of course, fishing gear. Yep, the first true sign of spring isn't robins or dandelions or even April showers, but that first tug at the end of a fishing line. The first day of trout season is always about more than the fish, and no one knows that better than outdoor writer John Gierach.

John Gierach is a free-lance writer and author of several fly-fishing themed books with titles such as Still Life With Brook Trout; Sex, Death and Fly-Fishing; and the cult classic, Trout Bum. His work has appeared in Gray's Sporting Journal, Field & Stream and Fly, Rod and Reel. His writing is not purely instructional, though there's plenty of useful information, nor merely adventurous, though he travels from the Arctic to Scotland to the Rockies, and it's not the purist philosophy of an elite fly fisherman, though there's a witty thinker with a wry sense of humor wearing that patched-up pair of waders. What he does manage to do is explain the peculiarities of the fishing life in a way that will amuse novices and seasoned fly fishers alike.

Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders collects forty of John Gierach's finest essays on fishing from six of his earlier books. Gierach is perhaps one of the most entertaining outdoor writers working today. Like all his writing, these essays are about more than fishing, but about nature, friendship, and observations of life. Gierach often begins with a keen observation that soon leads to something below the surface, which he coaxes out, and successfully lands. As Gierach says, "Writing is a lot like fishing."

Writing is a lot like fishing. Both take patience, persistence, lots of time, an appreciation of the process, and both are harder than they appear. This anthology of Gierach's work is sure to comfort the angler who stands in a cold river for hours and brings home nothing to show for it. As any fisherman knows, there's more to fishing than the fish, and like any good writing, this collection of essays is about more the preparation of camp coffee or catching arctic graylings, but ultimately about life, death and of course, fly fishing...

If you love this book, check out "Of A Predatory Heart" by Joe Parry and "Of Woods and Wild Things" by Don Knauss

Fish or cut bait? Trout or Bass? Drop me an email at frommyshelf@epix.net Trolling for past columns? Cast your line at www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com Be sure to catch "Hobo Finds A Home" a children's book about a cat who wanted more out of life than to be a barn cat. This column approved by the committee to elect Hobo for President

To bad only 5 stars available
This is one of the best books I've ever read.John's insights into flyfishing and it's connection with day-to-day life are phenominal.I'm ready to buy a camper, quit work and spend the rest of my days cruising fron stream to stream. ... Read more

Product Description

From rods to reels, fly lines to tippets, fishing hats to hip boots, this guide covers everything an angler will need before heading to the water.

 If your favorite way to spend the day is stepping into a mountain stream-fly fishing gear in hand-to match wits with an elusive rainbow trout, The Orvis Encyclopedia of Fly Fishing is the perfect companion. Ideal for newcomers looking to get their feet wet, as well as for seasoned fisherman who need a reliable reference, this A to Z guide unlocks the mysteries of the sport, including answers to questions such as:

• Where in Montana will I find the best fly fishing for mountain whitefish? ("Montana," page 136)
• What kind of fish bite at night? ("Night Fishing," page 176)
• Which European country has the best fly fishing? ("Scotland," page 235)
• Can I catch a shark on a fly rod? ("Sharks," page 240)
• What's the difference between a Bucktail, a Featherwing Streamer, and a Woolly Bugger? ("Streamers," page 251)

 Written by Tom Rosenbauer, a top instructor at the Orvis Fly Fishing School, and loaded with stunning full-color photographs and clear illustrations of step-by-step techniques, The Orvis Encyclopedia of Fly Fishing serves as a comprehensive course in the fundamentals of the sport.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Pick it up
Read this book.

It's cheap, so if you hate it at least you didn't spend too much on it.

But I don't think you'll hate it.

-Michael ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book
Jed Davis is my PE teacher and I have to say that this book is great.

Great Book!
Admittedly I was a bit shocked when I opened this book and find it was full of text and had mainly black-and-white pictures.I get so used to books that have color pictures and not that much text, and I am not quite comfortable in reading books that are full of text.But I change my mind after I started reading it.The author is very analytical about his observation and recommendation.I find the author very convincing in presenting his case (given that I am not a steelhead fisherman).I really recommend this book, and I will definitely pay attention to any other book that this author may come up.

Easy read with many useful hints
If you're into spinner fishing, this book has many helpful suggestions and is an easy read.

Jed Davis's book is well organized and follows a logical pattern that makes his suggestion easy to understand and follow.

Best of all, I think Jed's book improved my fishing.

Great Book!
This book was everything I expected and more.Not only did it offer specific tips every season of steelheading, but offered valuable tips on making your own spinners as well.I'd highly recommend this book to anybody wanting advanced knowledge of fishing and spinners.

An outstanding description of a highly effective method
If you thought you understood steelhead fishing before reading this book, you are in for a big surprise. Davis not only explains the theory of how and why steelhead act the way they do, but he clearly and efficiently putsit to practical use by showing anglers exactly what spinners to fish in allconditions and how to fish them. As he points out in the opening chapter,nothing is left out or glossed over. He goes into excruciating detail oneverything. But don't, for a minute, think this will bore you. You will beon the edge of your seat as he tears apart conventional beliefs andintroduces you to whole new way of looking at things. For example, mosttrout and salmon anglers think that steelhead become lethargic in coldwater and must be angled for with tiny baits. Well, here comes Jed Daviswith a silver-plated #5 spinner in 32 degree water. I must say that Ilaughed my head off at first. Like how did this thing ever get published?Surely, this man had to be a lunatic. But I tried the technique in upstateNew York and at my parents house near Bellingham, Washington. I hate to saythis but his system works. Most guys keep this type of thing a secret. NotDavis. This is more like true confessions of an expert steelheader.Regardless of the method you fish, this book will give you tremendouspractical insight. Definitely one of the best fishing books I ever read. ... Read more

Product Description
Thoroughly updated and graced with new illustrations to new knots, this clear and accessible guide will help you learn how to rig effectively for saltwater fishing.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

practical fishing knots
Practical Fishing Knots is exactly what the title promises. It is easy to read and has lots of knots pictured. They are detailed and simple enough for the reader to comprehend. My husband has enjoyed this book often, which surprised me as he's not a big reader and he already is pretty knot savvy. A+

Fishing Knots
Well writen manual , with excellent diagrams and a wide variety of knots needed for most fishing requirements.

Excellent book. Very worth owning
I refer to this book regularly. It is an excellent book on knots. I am very pleased.

Ricky
This is a great Book for any Fisherman! I'm a fourth generation commercial fisherman and a dedicated sports fisherman; did I learn any new knots? Just one! But it brought back memories of old ones I had forgot. If you would like learning the proper way to tie knots? Yes I recommend this Book. The Images are satisfactory but need work.

look elsewhere
on the surface, the book gives nice illustrations of general knots. the diagrams are clear cut and tying steps seem easy until you actually do it. i've only tried the snell knot so far, which is a basic knot when it comes to fishing. i followed the directions for over four hours and i still cannot get the knot right. call me stupid. i went to google and searched for snell knot tying tips. voila, i got the darn knot under 5 minutes following the google recipe. i cannot comment on the other knot pages since i haven't tried, but having trouble on a basic knot leaves a bad taste already. the upshot is that at least this book gives me new keywords to search for on the internet. i know this is just one bad review but it's surely an honest one. ... Read more

Product Description
Don’t Let the Big One Get Away

Ken Schultz’s Essentials of Fishing is the new authority on the sport you love, whether you’re an expert or a beginner.

Organized by topic, this information-packed reference offers fast and easy access to all of the fishing facts, instructions, and tips you need to get more bites, land more big ones, and have a lot more fun every time you dip a line in the water. Whether you’re heading for a trout stream, the Gulf Stream, or points in between, you’ll find everything you need to know about the fish species you’ll be hunting, the fishing rods, tackle, and other gear you should pack, and the basic skills and advanced techniques that will boost your chances of success.

You’ll discover the latest advances in conventional, spinning, and fly rods and reels, and you’ll learn the essentials of knot tying, hook sharpening, and more. Schultz helps you perfect your flycasting, surfcasting, flipping, and pitching skills, and he shows you how to figure out where the fish are in streams, lakes, bays, and even the ocean. You’ll also learn a variety of retrieval methods, find tips on playing and landing fish, and get advice on measuring, weighing, storing, and cleaning your catch.

Whether you prefer wading in a rushing brook or fording pounding surf, casting from a jetty or trolling from a boat, chumming in freshwater or drifting in saltwater, you’ll find completely up-to-date information on species and tactics, special techniques, preferred rigs, lures, and bait, picking your spot, angling etiquette, and safety. You’ll learn how to approach schooling fish, angle in brush and timber, night fish, ice fish, and much more.

More than 450 exquisite drawings illustrate everything from mending fly fishing line to fishing around buoys and tuning lures, while more than fifty full-color photos depict some of the most exciting and satisfying moments in fishing. ... Read more

Product Description
The magic and majesty of America’s greatest western fly-fishing rivers. Flywater brings us to the iconic creeks, springs, freestone rivers, and tailwaters that make the American West the world’s premier destination for fly fishing. Grant McClintock’s first book struck a chord with fishermen, and fifteen years later he takes the reader back to these fabulous places—from the storied Henry’s Fork to the Yellowstone to the Thompson River in British Columbia. With extraordinary new photography and wisdom, McClintock revisits these home waters and discovers countless others as well. Flywater is a gallery of moments and places. From Idaho and Montana to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, McClintock’s rich photography of trout and steelhead waters surrounded by beautiful Western landscapes creates a compelling journey that the reader, whether fisherman or non-fisherman, will thoroughly enjoy. For the serious fly fisherman, this is an album of shared experiences. For the uninitiated, it is an artfully crafted guidebook to an exotic new world that really does exist on the streams and rivers of the American West. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gorgeous gift for any angler!
The editorial reviews for this book (Fly Rod & Reel, Frommer's) really got it right. This book is PERFECT and a FEAST FOR THE EYES. It makes me want to move out West. Buy it for every fisherman or fisherwoman you know. I plan to do so! ... Read more