NEW BOOKS

May/June 2004

Fly Rodding Estuaries: How to Fish Salt Ponds, Coastal Rivers, Tidal Creeks & Backwaters

Ed Mitchell, Stackpole Books (Mechanicsburg, PA), (800)732-3669 or (717)796-0411, fax: (717)796-0412, www.stackpolebooks.com, 2003, 148 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Fishing Digest

Dennis Thornton, ed., Krause Publications (Iola, WI), (800)258-0929 or (715)445-2214, fax: (715)445-4087, www.krausebooks.com, 2003, 317 pp., illustrated, $24.95 plus $4 S/H, softcover.

Fish On! A Guide to Playing and Landing Big Fish on a Fly

Floyd Franke, The Derrydale Press (Lanham, MD), (800)462-6420 or (717)794-3800, fax: (800)338-4550 or (717)794-3803, www.derrydalepress.com, 2003, 159 pp., illustrated, $24.95, hardcover.

Currier’s Quick and Easy Guide to Warmwater Fly Fishing

Jeff Currier, Greycliff Publishing Company (Helena, MT). Order from author (check to P.O. Box 3548, Jackson, WY 83001), 2002, 154 pp., illustrated, $30 includes S/H, softcover.

What Fish Don’t Want You to Know: An Insider’s Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Frank P. Baron, Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill (Camden, ME), (800)262-4729 or (207)236-4837, fax: (207)236-6314, www.internationalmarine.com, 2004, 163 pp., illustrated, $16.95, softcover.

Any place where freshwater and saltwater merge is likely a thriving environment – with striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, Atlantic bonito, little tunny, American and hickory shad, fluke, red drum and spotted seatrout-- easily accessed by wading or fishing from a small boat, canoe, or kayak. In Fly Rodding Estuaries, Ed Mitchell discusses the great fishing along the Atlantic coast; the best equipment, leaders, knots and flies; effects of tides, current, wind and seasons; and much more. In Fishing Digest, Dennis Thornton has put together a comprehensive reference to tackle, boats, trailers and other freshwater, saltwater and deep-sea fishing equipment. For traveling anglers there are listings of more than 1,400 fishing guides and charters, fishing license fees and regulations for every state, resorts and state tourism offices. Plus successful fishing tips and techniques, lure collecting, and more. Many anglers successfully hook fish only to lose them after the hook pulls free or the line breaks. Floyd Franke’s Fish On! is dedicated to the subject of fish-fighting skills, of playing and landing big fish. He takes an in-depth look at the three rules for playing a fish (keeping the rod tip up, maintaining pressure, and allowing no slack), discusses conservation, outlines general rules for successful catch-and-release, and investigates other often overlooked variables, such as boat position, equipment and conditions. For 30 years Jeff Currier has been chasing warmwater game fish with a fly rod. In Quick and Easy Guide to Warmwater Fly Fishing he shares his knowledge and experience and provides all the information you’ll need to get started. Chapters include types of water, flies and equipment, knots, casting, hooking and landing fish, and popular species (including exotics in Central and South America, Africa, Australia and Asia). With good photos and illustrations (for id) and a helpful bibliography. Whether you are new to fishing or an accomplished angler, you will find What Fish Don’t Want You to Know an entertaining guide to fishing in freshwater. Frank Baron includes easy-to-follow instructions (and some humor) in this manual that shows you the best ways to fish small streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds by explaining how to read water, select and properly present baits and lures, choose essential tackle and gear, etc.

The Secret Carp

Chris Yates, Merlin Unwin (U.K.)/Stackpole Books (contact information above), 2003, 171 pp., $24.95, hardcover.

Salmon at the Edge

Derek Mills, ed., Blackwell Publishing (Ames, IA), (800)862-6657 or (515)292-0140, fax: (515)292-3348, www.blackwellprofessional.com, 2003, 307 pp., illustrated, $139.99, hardcover.

Hooked on Bass

Alan Vaughan and Mike Ladle, Crowood Press (U.K.)/Trafalgar Square (No. Pomfret, VT), (800)423-4525 or (802)457-1911, fax: (802)457-1913, www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com, 2003, 221 pp., illustrated, $40, hardcover.

Mysterious Manatees

Karen Glaser and John E. Reynolds III, University Press of Florida (Gainesville), (800)226-3822 or (352)392-1351, fax: (352)392-7302, www.upf.com, 2003, 188 pp., illustrated $29.95, hardcover.

When he stumbled upon a long-neglected, overgrown lake holding some monster carp, Chris Yates knew that he had discovered the kind of place about which every carp angler dreams. The Secret Carp is the story of his quest to catch the huge, elusive inhabitants, a quest that reveals many insights into the secretive behavior of this king of freshwater fish. Derek Mills, a leading salmonid biologist, explores one of the world’s most commercially valuable species in Salmon at the Edge and offers new information about the exploitation and conservation of Atlantic salmon. The book is divided into five sections with detailed chapters on every phase of the Atlantic salmon life cycle and the industry that surrounds it, and concludes with a look at the future of the species and the salmon trade. Hooked on Bass shows anglers how to catch European bass, particularly the bigger fish, from the shore. Authors Alan Vaughan and Mike Ladle cover the life cycle and behavior of the species, the selection and use of suitable tackle, bass foods and natural baits, artificial lures, and locations around Britain. Good practical advice on methods, and the best times and places to fish. Mysterious Manatees brings together photographer Karen Glaser and writer and scholar John Reynolds for a compelling exploration of this huge, enigmatic inhabitant of Florida’s coastal waterways. Reynold’s discussion of manatee biology, management, and conservation is accompanied by Glaser’s beautiful duotone photographs that capture these magnificent animals in their own environment.

The Fisherman’s Electrical Manual

John C. Payne, Sheridan House, Inc. (Dobbs Ferry, NY), (914)693-2410, www.sheridanhouse.com, 2003, 162 pp., illustrated, $17.95, softcover.

Manual of Fish Health , Chris Andrews, et al.

Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium, Nick Dakin

Firefly Books (Westport, CT), (800)387-5085 or (203)222-9700, fax: (800)565-6034 or (203)222-0243, www.fireflybooks.com, 2003, 208/400 pp., illustrated, $24.95/$49.95, hardcover.

Florida A to Z

Susan Jane Ryan, Pineapple Press (Sarasota, FL), (800)746-3275 or (941)359-0886, fax: (941)351-9988, www.pineapplepress.com, 2003, 59 pp., illustrated, $19.95, hardcover.

The Fisherman’s Electrical Manual sorts through the astonishing array of electrical and electronic devices for small fishing boats to help the fisherman make the right choices and develop a better understanding of the installation, troubleshooting, and repairs of these systems. In a well-organized fashion John Payne addresses such subjects as outboard electrics, trolling motors, downriggers, batteries, boat wiring, sonar and fishfinders, GPS, charts, radar and autopilot. Everything you need to know about aquarium fish, their environment and disease prevention can be found in the Manual of Fish Health, a comprehensive guide for fish hobbyists. The authors explore every aspect of health care for all types of fishes (freshwater and marine, tropical and temperate, pond and aquarium), including maintaining a healthy aquatic environment; recognizing and coping with pests, diseases, parasites and bacteria; and achieving the correct water chemistry for your fish. Nick Dakin’s Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium explains how to set up, stock and maintain a saltwater aquarium -- and how to make it a “living work of art.” The lavishly illustrated reference examines the characteristics of invertebrates and marine fish; important differences between tropical and freshwater fish; tanks, heaters, lights and filters; water testing and chemical balances; and much more. Susan Jane Ryan’s Florida A to Z contains, in the 26 letters of the alphabet, almost 200 interesting facts about the state – its history, geography, nature, culture, and personalities. Who invented air conditioning? What city is the “Shark Tooth” Capital of the world? How long are jellyfish tentacles? How tall is a key deer? From alligator to Zephyrhills, the answers are here.

Fishing the Roanoke Valley

M. W. Smith, University of Virginia Press (Roanoke, VA), (800)831-3406 or (434)924-6064, fax: (434)982-2655, www.upress.virginia.edu, 2003, 78 pp., illustrated, $12.95, softcover.

Fly Fishing California’s Great Waters

Dan Blanton, Frank Amato Publications (Portland, OR), (800)541-9498 or (503)653-8108, fax: (503)653-2766, www.amatobooks.com, 2003, 88 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Ron Schara’s Minnesota Fishing Guide

Ron Schara, Tristan Publishing (Golden Valley, MN), (763)545-1383, www.tristanoutdoors.com, 2003, 276 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Fly Fishing Montana’s Missouri River

Trapper Badovinac, Farcountry Press (Helena, MT), (800)821-3874 or (406)444-5104, fax: (406)443-5480, www.farcountrypress.com, 2003, 120 pp., illustrated, $24.95, hardcover.

Successful Fishing in Australia

Geoff Wilson, Australian Fishing Network (South Croydon, Victoria), 2003, 011-61-3-9761-4469, fax: 011-61-3-9761-4055, www.af n. com.au, 2003, 152 pp., illustrated, AU$34.95, softcover.

In Fishing the Roanoke Valley, M.W. Smith discusses the fish species common to the streams of the Roanoke Valley and how to target them throughout the year. There’s useful information on winter fishing (such as vertical jigging), catching and using live shad, and tackle and lure choices, plus an appendix with local guide services, tackle shops, boat dealers, and great float trips down the Upper James River. Fly Fishing California’s Great Waters details 11 diverse locations in the state, including San Francisco and Monterey Bay, the California Delta, Fall River, the North Coast rivers, and Nacimiento. Dan Blanton has been fishing and writing about these waters for more than 35 years, and he shares his experience as he discusses the history of these locations; the species and what they eat; seasons and tides; wade and boat fishing; tackle, flies, techniques and strategies; electronics; and trip planning. Ron Schara’s Minnesota Fishing Guide is a how-to reference to fishing the state, useful for the beginner as well as the experienced angler. Part 1 covers fishing basics, Part 2 looks at every major species (such as panfish, walleye, trout, bass, muskie, catfish, carp) and Part 3, entitled “Fishing Waters,” features Minnesota DNR lake statistics, public access information, lake size, maximum depth, etc. Trapper Badovinac shares his wit and knowledge about every riffle, island, backwater, and productive spot in the 35 miles of the Missouri River north of Helena in Fly Fishing Montana’s Missouri River. Serving as your personal guide for four-season fly fishing on this blue-ribbon water, he provides fishing advice and strategies; drift-boat techniques; tips on gear, clothing and finding the right spot; dry fly patterns; and beautiful photography (his own). Successful Fishing in Australia provides, as the subtitle states, “what the average angler needs to know.” Geoff Wilson focuses on the principles and techniques that have enabled him to catch fish so successfully over the years in chapters that cover bay, estuary and tidal lagoon fishing; freshwater fishing; beach fishing; rock fishing; offshore fishing; float fishing; bottom fishing with sinkers; and land-based fishing. Also included: sections on fish descriptions, knots, hooks, rigging on wire, tides, cleaning and filleting.

Life’s a Fish and Then You Fry

Randy Bayliss and Ray Troll, Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (800)452-3032 or (907)278-8838, fax: (800)355-9685 or (907)278-8839, www.gacpc.com, 2002, 208 pp., illustrated, $16.95, softcover.

Farlows Game & Fish Cookbook

Barbara Thompson, ed., Swan Hill Press (Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK). Available from Stackpole Books (contact information above), 2002, 287 pp., illustrated, $28.95, hardcover.

Blue Crabs: Catch ‘em, Cook ‘em, Eat ‘em

Peter Meyer, Avian-Cetacean Press (P.O. Box 15643, Wilmington, NC 28408), 2003, 128 pp., illustrated, $13.95 plus $2 S/H, softcover.

Seafood that’s quick, simple, and delicious – those are the watchwords for Randy Bayliss, a Juneau mariner and cooking columnist. His test kitchen was the galley of his sloop and his grocery store Alaska’s bountiful coast. Life’s a Fish and Then You Fry contains more than 200 recipes for entrees, soups and salads featuring wild Pacific salmon, halibut, oysters, crab, mussels and squid. Add in some humor, double entendre, and Ray Troll’s fish art – and you’ll find it’s more than a standard cookbook. Published originally in Great Britain, Farlow’s Game and Fish Cookbook with the Game Conservancy Trust, an updated version of the classic The Game Cookery Book, is for aficionados of game and fish cuisine. It features modern and traditional recipes for all levels of cooking expertise; helpful hints, techniques and instructions; a wine guide; a chapter on preparing game; a helpful glossary and more. Blue Crabs is an entertaining guide to blue crabs and crabbing along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts. Peter Meyer explains what a blue crab is, then provides practical information on catching them (when, where, techniques), cooking them (storing, cooking, picking) and eating them (recipes). Lots of illustrations and a section at the end (“Blue Crab Extras”) with websites, agencies, terminology, etc.

Northwest Fly Patterns & Tying Guide

Rainland Fly Casters, Frank Amato Publications (contact information above), 2003, 83 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Guide Flies: How to Tie and Fish the Killer Flies from America’s Greatest Guides and Fly Shops , David Klausmeyer

Tying Better Flies: Techniques and Tricks for Making Durable and Effective Patterns, Art Scheck

Imitative Fly Tying: Techniques and Variations , Ian Moutter

The Countryman Press (Woodstock, VT), (800)245-4151 or (802)457-1678, fax: (802)457-1678, www.countrymanpress.com, 2003/2003/2002, 118/173/215 pp., illustrated, $40/$27.95/$35, hardcover/softcover/hardcover.

Tying Flies with Foam, Fur and Feathers

Harrison R. Steeves III, Stackpole Books (contact information above), 2003, 133 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Tying Warmwater Flies

C Boyd Pfeiffer, Krause Publications (contact information above), 2003, 160 pp., illustrated, $24.99 plus $4 S/H, spiralbound hardcover.

Northwest Fly Patterns & Tying Guide is a collaborative effort by members of the Rainland Fly Casters which is based in Astoria, Oregon. Both tying and fishing techniques are discussed, and more than 200 productive patterns are presented (dry flies, wet flies, terrestrials, nymphs, streamers, saltwater flies, and favorite flies of the club). Whether you fish small streams, large rivers or the salt -- it’s all here. David Klausmeyer showcases the favorite flies of the nation’s best fly fishing guides in Guide Flies. Professional fishing guides who spend hundreds of days a year on the waters of a specific place or region know those waters and the food the fish are eating . Klausmeyer has obtained the details from each guide of how they developed their fly, how best to fish it, and how to duplicate it at your own vise. With close-up color photographs of the latest patterns for catching trout, bass, pike, striped bass, bonefish, tarpon and bluefish. In Tying Better Flies, Art Scheck shares his innovative tying ideas and techniques for many of the most important flies in the fishing arsenal. He constructs each tying lesson around a particular fly which becomes the model and jumping-off point from which to explore other patterns. After following Scheck’s careful instructions, you’ll understand the process of tying great flies and the mechanics of building a fly that will hold together and catch fish. Ian Moutter’s Imitative Fly Tying is a comprehensive manual featuring dozens of useful techniques, each one developed to solve a specific problem faced by fly tyers and fly fishers. Topics covered include emerging fly patterns; the newly emerged adult fly and how to create the true dry fly; spent spinners; nymphs, larvae and pupae; small stream fishing; and a discussion on the use of the vise. Detailed illustrations and photographs throughout depict the steps described in the text. Harrison Steeves’ practical approach to fly tying – he uses synthetic materials like foam for durability and ease of tying but natural materials like turkey feathers and marabou when no substitutes will work as well – will appeal to any angler who wants durable flies that catch plenty of fish. Tying Flies with Foam, Fur and Feathers contains 48 effective and innovative patterns for ants, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, damselflies, wasps and cicadas, and also provides an overview on how to design your own patterns. Since no one fly will work for all species or for all fishing environments, C. Boyd Pfeiffer offers his list of the top 100 warmwater flies and how to tie them in Tying Warmwater Flies. This easy-to-use reference is divided into four chapters: essential tools and accessories, tying materials, tying methods, and the 100 top patterns with large photos of the completed flies. Readers will learn to create surface and sinking flies, poppers and hair bugs for snagging bass, panfish, pike, carp and others.

From the Far Side of the River: Chest-Deep in Little Fish and Big Ideas

Paul Quarrington, Greystone Books (Vancouver, BC, Canada), (604)254-7191, fax: (604)254-9099, www.greystonebooks.com, 2003, 184 pp., $19.95, hardcover.

Voelker’s Pond: A Robert Traver Legacy

Ed Wargin and James McCullough, Huron River Press (Ann Arbor, MI), (800)956-8999 or (734)769-5600, fax: (734)769-5607, www.huronriverpress.com, 2003, 144 pp., illustrated, $45, hardcover.

A Fishing Life is Hard Work

Art Scheck, Stackpole Books (contact information above), 2003, 159 pp., $21.95, hardcover.

Beloved Waters for Steelhead and Salmon, Bonefish and Tarpon

Paul Ford, Frank Amato Publications (contact information above), 2003, 98 pp., illustrated, $12.95, softcover.

My Outdoors

Steve Galea, Johnson Gorman Publishers (Calgary, AB, Canada), (403)246-7956, fax: (403)246-8926, www.jgbooks.com, 2002, 255 pp., illustrated, $16.95, softcover.

From the Far Side of the River is an entertaining meander downstream with writer and angler Paul Quarrington. Each short piece in the collection has its own character and inhabitants, and you will find yourself enjoying each recounted adventure: pickerel fishing in northern Ontario, stalking bonefish in the Bahamas, muskie fishing with his pal Jake, pursuing trout with Santa Claus, and surviving time on the water with Bonefish Dundee. John Voelker was a fly fishing icon and a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. And to avid readers of 1950s best sellers and classic film buffs he was also known as Robert Traver, author of award-winning classics such as Trout Madness, Trout Magic, and novel turned Academy Award winning movie, Anatomy of a Murder. Voelker’s Pond celebrates his life by exploring his secret fishing spot somewhere in the northern portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Stunning photography by Ed Wargin and fine essays by John McCullough tell the story of this extraordinary man and the legacy he leaves behind. How do you keep fishing fun when it is not only your hobby but also your career, your 9-to-5 job? A Fishing Life is Hard Work is the tale – told in a number of humorous short stories – of how one fishing editor (Art Scheck) almost lost the “fun” of fishing when he became disillusioned with the “business.” This is a very personal account of a man afraid of burning out and fighting hard to keep the balance between work and play. Beloved Waters is about waters, fish and fishers, about the unforgettable where fantasy is transformed by magic to reality. Author Paul Ford’s poetic stories about chinook, coho, steelhead, tarpon, trevally and bonefish in his beloved waters of the Pacific Northwest and the tropics are complemented by lovely black-and-white illustrations by Jerry Ellis. Outdoor columnist and humorist Steve Galea has 47 hunting and fishing stories in his book My Outdoors: Humor from Field and Stream. He relives experiences that range from the mildly embarrassing to almost life-threatening, and are filled with a host of questionable backwoods characters (whose motto is “conservation through incompetence”) with whom he shares quality time.

Catfishing in the South

Jeff Samsel, University of Tennessee Press (Knoxville), (800)621-2736 or (865)974-3321, fax: (865)974-3724, www.ut press.org, 2003, 179 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Fly-Fishing for Trophy Trout: A Complete Guide for the Beginning Fly-Fisher

Brent Curtice, Frank Amato Publications (contact information above), 2003, 88 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.

Fly Fishing for Permit

Jack Samson, The Countryman Press (contact information above), 2003, 219 pp., illustrated, $35, hardcover.

Pursuing River Smallmouth Bass

Ken Penrod, PPC Publications (Beltsville, MD), phone and fax: (301)937-0010, www.penrodsguides.com, 2001, 156 pp., illustrated, $25, softcover.

Catch That Trout! Fishing the North Island of New Zealand

Ron Giles, Reed Publishing NZ Ltd (Auckland), 011-649-441-2960, fax: 011-649-480-4999, www.reed.co.nz, 2003, 233 pp., illustrated, NZ$39.95, softcover.

Catfishing in the South is a comprehensive guide to finding and catching catfish in the southeastern United States. Focusing on rivers and reservoirs where this type of fishing is most popular, Jeff Samsel looks at species, habitats, gear and strategies, and several of the premier destinations in detail. Whether you are fishing for trophy flathead or blue catfish, bullheads, or in ponds from the bank, this books contains all the tools you’ll need. In Fly-Fishing for Trophy Trout, Brent Curtice does a masterful job explaining the intricacies of the sport. He discusses trout species, their habits and habitats, trout foods and how best to imitate them, matching the hatch, effective equipment and accessories, knots, casting techniques, reading water, seasons, safety and first aid, trip planning, tactics for trophy trout, and more. Though designed for the beginner, seasoned anglers will find lots of valuable information in these pages. Jack Samson unlocks the mystery and the almost mythical frustration of how and where to catch permit on a fly in his complete guide to the subject, Fly Fishing for Permit. Samson, who has pursued permit around the world, provides detailed maps for famous permit spots such as Mexico’s Ascension Bay, the Florida Keys, and Belize. He explains the equipment and how to use it, and includes the most effective patterns, plus stories from several famous permit fishermen. Few people have spent as much time fishing for, studying, and learning the habits of river smallmouth bass as Ken Penrod. In the informative Pursuing River Smallmouth Bass, he passes along his vast amount of knowledge, covering every conceivable aspect of the sport: seasons, habitat, rods, reels, line, live bait, boat rigging, lure selection, drift fishing, fly fishing, wading, float fishing and weather. Ron Giles sets out everything an angler needs to know about fishing New Zealand’s North Island in Catch That Trout! He combines personal anecdotes with technical information on where to fish and how to fish, including the best flies to imitate trout food in particular spots. This guide contains lots of good advice, detailed maps and color photos, plus a review of the tackle, equipment and clothing best suited to New Zealand conditions.

Fishing for Wild Images

Col Roberts, Australian Fishing Network (contact information above), 2003, 168 pp., illustrated, AU$44.95, softcover.

Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific

Gerald Allen, et al., New World Publications (Jacksonville, FL), (800)737-6558 or (904)737-6558, fax: (904)731-1188, www.fishid.com, 2003, 500 pp., illustrated, $45 plus $6 S/H, softcover.

Inland Fishes of Washington

Richard S. Wydoski and Richard R. Whitney, University of Washington Press (Seattle), (800)441-4115 or (206)543-8870, fax: (800)669-7993 or (206)685-3460, www.washington.edu/uwpress/, 2003, 322 pp., illustrated, $50, hardcover.

Col Roberts is one of Australia’s leading fishing, wildlife and landscape photo-graphers. Over the past decade he has traveled extensively around the world to capture on film fish and wildlife, and the unique environments they inhabit. These images form the visual essay that is his latest coffee-table book, Fishing for Wild Images. Included with the stunning photos of angling at its best are tips on the art and techniques of successful photography. Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific is a complete guide to the warm tropical seas between Thailand and Tahiti. A collaborative effort of four of the best marine authors/photographers in the business (Gerald Allen, Roger Steene, Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach), this reference contains 2,500 underwater photographs of 2,000 species, and the generous text includes common, scientific and family names, size, description, visually distinctive features, preferred habitat, typical behavior, depth range, and geographical distribution. The updated and expanded edition of Inland Fishes of Washington (first published in 1979) describes all the known native and introduced fishes found in freshwater habitats of Washington State, including most of the fishes of Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. This wide-ranging study, by Richard S, Wydoski and Richard R. Whitney, summarizes current knowledge on the appearance, distribution, growth, reproduction, food habits, and longevity of these fishes, and provides instruction on the basic methods of fish identification.