January/February 2005

The Surfcaster’s Guide to Baits, Rigs and Lures, Milt Rosko
Fishing the Massachusetts Coast: A Guide to North Shore, South Shore, and Cape Cod Locations for Boat and Shore Anglers, John Gribb
Burford Books (Springfield, NJ), (888)672-5247 or (973)258-0960, fax: (973)258-0113, www.burfordbooks.com, 2004, 160/178 pp., illustrated, $14.95/$16.95, softcover.
Reading the Water: Adventures in Surf Fishing from Martha’s Vineyard
Robert Post, The Lyons Press (Guilford, CT), (888)249-7568 or (203)458-4500, fax: (800)820-2329 or (203)458-4603, www.globe-pequot.com, 2004, 254 pp., illustrated, $14.95/$16.95, softcover.
On the Run: An Angler’s Journey Down the Striper Coast
David DiBenedetto, HarperCollins Publishers (New York), (212)207-7000, fax: (212)207-7901, www.harpercollins.com, 2003, 238 pp., $12.95, softcover.
Striper Chronicles: East Coast Surf Fishing Legends & Adventures
Leo N. Orsi, Jr., AKMO Publishers (Odessa, FL), (888)792-1414 or (813)792-1414, www.striperchronicles.com, 2004, 172 pp., illustrated, $24.95, hardcover.
       Milt Rosko has been sharing his knowledge of how to catch saltwater fish for over 50 years – in nine books and over 1,000 articles in outdoor publications. In The Surfcaster’s Guide to Baits, Rigs and Lures, he explains how to choose from the hundreds of different baits, rigs and lures, when to use them, and how they are fished. Rosko always has great advice to help fishermen put more fish on the line. Fishing the Massachusetts Coast highlights some of the finest and most productive fishing in the U.S. Experienced anglers know the “where-to” is only part of the story; the “how” and “when” to fish for specific species are the real keys to success. Capt. John Gribbs touches on every important topic, from seasonal strategies and charter boat trips to bait, lure and fly fishing, and includes invaluable tips from some of the state’s most knowledgeable fishing professionals. The surf fishermen of Martha’s Vineyard are the heroes of Reading the Water. This second edition of Robert Post’s oral history features stories from these intense and determined men and women who prowl the beaches, testing their wits and lures against the sea’s bounty. And while the romance and excitement of the hunt is at the core of these tales, there is practical information to be gained – about the subtleties of tide and current, the phases of the moon, the direction of the wind, the best baits and lures. In On the Run (now available in paperback), David DiBenedetto follows, observes, and participates in the autumn migration of the striped bass – one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events -- down the eastern coast from Maine to their winter feeding grounds off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The natural history of the striper, conservation efforts, and a look at the people who make their living from this fishery are all woven into the tale as the author photographs, catches and even swims with these magnificent creatures. Striped bass fishermen will also enjoy Striper Chronicles, a charming collection of surf fishing tales. While there is certainly no substitute for actually being on Block Island (Rhode Island) with surf rod in hand, Leo Orsi provides the next best thing: exciting fishing stories with hurricanes, dense fog, equipment failures, pitch-black nights, and a cast of characters that includes New England surf-fishing legends.

Catch and Release: Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life
Mark Kingwell, Viking/Penguin Putnam (New York), (800)788-6262 or (212)366-2000, fax: (212)366-2952, www.penguin.com, 2004, 242 pp., $21.95, hardcover.
Thanatopfish: An Ocean Odyssey
Stephen Sloan (Meadow Run Press (Far Hills, NJ), available from Fisheries Defense Fund (New York), (888)807-8001, www.fisheriesdefensefund.org, 2004, 112 pp., illustrated, $100, limited edition of 500 signed by author and illustrator James Prosek, hardcover slipcased.
Late in an Angler’s Life: Essays on the Sport
Gordon M. Wickstrom, University of New Mexico Press (Albuquerque), (800)249-7737 or (505)277-2346, fax: (505)277-9270, www.unmpress.com, 2004, 195 pp., illustrated, $19.95, hardcover.
True Love and the Woolly Bugger, Dave Ames
The Field & Stream Treasury of Trout Fishing, Leonard M. Wright, Jr., ed.
The Greatest Fishing Stories Ever Told, Lamar Underwood, ed.
The Lyons Press (contact information above), 2004/2001/2000, 189/299/277 pp., $14.95 each, softcover.
       Mark Kingwell’s Catch and Release: Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life is a vibrant blend of memoir, travelogue and reflection, framed around an annual fishing trip that Kingwell, his father, and two brothers take each year to British Columbia. You’ll discover – as the author did -- that fishing is worth thinking about because of the thinking that fishing allows. Especially when the trout aren’t biting. Stephen Sloan has spent a lifetime fishing – from the trout in the streams of Pennsylvania to the billfish along Africa’s west coast. In his new book, Thanatopfish (a pun on William Cullen Bryant’s poem title, Thanatopsis, derived from two ancient Greek words that mean “contemplation of death”), Sloan sets out on a tour of the earth’s oceans and an examination of the world’s fisheries. It’s an imaginative treatment of these topics, a combination of fictional stories and sobering factual observations about angling, conservation, and the future of our resources. Gordon Wickstrom examines life through the scope of his nearly 65 years of fishing in Late in an Angler’s Life. His essays use fishing as a lens through which to view and evaluate things: politics, art, friendship, religion, globalization, relations between the sexes, time and old age. He also discusses technical matters (equipment and techniques), reviews the literature – in short, he writes about the topics that matter to people who love to fish. True Love and the Woolly Bugger appeared in 1996. This softcover version brings back Dave Ames’ unforgettable characters and his tales of trout, tarpon and bonefish, interwoven with all the experiences – funny, happy and sad -- that beset or bless anglers. It’s an amusing, insightful odyssey through three decades of fishing and hard living. Since its first issue back in 1895, Field & Stream magazine has published several thousand articles on trout fishing. The very best of these writings – from such masters as James Henshall, Eugene Connett, Edward R. Hewitt, Ray Bergman, Lee Wulff – are included in The Field & Stream Treasury of Trout Fishing, an entertaining collection edited by Leonard M. Wright, Jr. and published initially in 2001. The softcover version of The Greatest Fishing Stories Ever Told, edited by Lamar Underwood, contains 28 unforgettable fishing tales about two kinds of places: the ones you have been to and love to remember, and the ones you have only dreamed of visiting. Whether exploring the Pacific with Zane Grey or listening to A.J. McClane explain just what it really means to be an angler, these classics are always great reading.

The Alligator Book
C.C. Lockwood, Louisiana State University Press (Baton Rouge), (800)861-3477 or (225)578-8271, fax: (800)305-4416 or (225)578-6461, www.lsu.edu/lsupress, 2002, 130 pp., illustrated, $39.95, hardcover.
The Orvis Guide to Outdoor Photography
Jim Rowinski, The Lyons Press (contact information above), 2004, 312 pp., illustrated, $24.95, softcover.
Earth Ponds Sourcebook: The Pond Owner’s Manual and Resource Guide
Tim Matson, Countryman Press (Woodstock, VT), (800)245-4151 or (802)457-4826, fax: (802)457-1678, www.countrymanpress.com, 2004, 181 pp., illustrated, $21.95, softcover.
Seafaring Lore & Legend
Peter D. Jeans, International Marine/McGraw-Hill (Camden, ME), (800)262-4729 or (207)236-4837, fax: (207)236-6314, www.internationalmarine.com, 2004, 370 pp., $24.95, hardcover.
       The modern-day American alligator has existed for over two million years, a relic of nature’s wilderness. Wildlife photographer and naturalist C.C. Lockwood traveled the Gulf Coast – through wetland refuges, tourist attractions and theme parks, alligator farms and meat processors -- to study the alligator. He shares his stunning photographs and the latest facts about this ancient, dragon-like species in The Alligator Book.The Orvis Guide to Outdoor Photography is a complete manual for taking quality photographs in the outdoors. Jim Rowinski covers the basics, from understanding the relationship between light and film to shooting landscapes, wildlife, and people in the outdoors. Also included is technical advice on hard-to-handle situations such as shooting at night, capturing lightning on film, and freezing moving objects. Earth Ponds Sourcebook is a comprehensive reference for pond-related books and periodicals, suppliers, advocacy groups, botanical gardeners, and more. Tim Matson is known as the “guru” of earth pond building; in this thoroughly-revised edition of his 1997 resource he provides everything pond owners need to keep up on the latest in technology, techniques, and supporting organizations. Seafaring Lore and Legend explores the most colorful and curious aspects of our nautical heritage. From Noah’s Ark to Thor Heyerdahl’s raft, from Atlantis to the Northwest Passage, author Peter Jeans scours the ages and the seven seas for fanciful, inspiring, and bizarre tales of sea monsters, ghost ships, lost continents, castaways, pirates, explorers, superstitions and customs. It’s a fascinating read, a book you can pick up anywhere for a few minutes or for an afternoon.

Freshwater Fishing Oregon & Washington
Gary Lewis, Gary Lewis Outdoors (Bend, OR), (541)317-0116, www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com, 2003, 128 pp., illustrated, $18.95, softcover.
A Guide to Fishing and Diving New Jersey Reefs
Barry Preim, et al., New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (Artificial Reef Association, P.O. Box 16, Oceanville, NJ 08231), (609)748-2020, 2004, 66 pp., illustrated, $19.95 plus $3.05 S/H, softcover spiralbound.
Pier Fishing in California: The Complete Coast and Bay Guide
Ken Jones, Publishers Design Group (Roseville, CA), (800)587-6666, www.PierFishing.com or www.PublishersDesign.com, 2004, 516 pp., illustrated, $29.95, softcover.
A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine
Kevin Tracewski, Countrysport Press (Camden, ME), (800)685-7962 or (207)594-9544, fax: (207)594-0147, www.countrysportpress.com, 2004, 154 pp., illustrated, $19.95, softcover.
       Gary Lewis is an outdoor writer and photographer, and as a serious angler and adventurer he has fished many of the Northwest’s best waters. His book Freshwater Fishing Oregon & Washington takes you from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula rainforests to Oregon’s Outback and features expert techniques for the most exciting species from the region’s top fishermen. Plus detailed sections on skills, equipment, recipes, photography, etc. The second edition of A Guide to Fishing and Diving New Jersey Reefs contains descriptions, charts and coordinates (both Loran and GPS) for every item ever sunk by New Jersey’s Artificial Reef Program. This easy-to-use, waterproof guide also features reef species, reef etiquette, and a section with useful contacts. Ken Jones’ Pier Fishing in California is the ultimate pier fishing resource for Pacific Coast anglers. This second edition covers 113 piers; the history of California piers and pier fishing; tackle, rigging, baits and lures; cleaning and cooking; and an “encyclopedia” of the 100 most commonly caught species. The chapter "The Pier Rats Speak", compiled from the discussion boards at PierFishing.com, offers a colorful glimpse into pier fishing “culture.” In A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine, fisherman and biologist/entomologist Kevin Tracewski provides an historical overview of the state’s rich fishing heritage and reveals the best places to drop a line, how to get there, and what techniques and tackle to use. Both fly fishing and spin fishing techniques – for salmon, trout, bass, pike and saltwater species -- are covered. Eight different fishing regions are highlighted and each includes a profile of a local angling personality/expert.

Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics
Paul C. Marriner, Gale’s End Press (Mahone Bay, NS, Canada), (902)624-9662, fax: (902)624-6192, www.galesendpress.com, 2003, 231 p., illustrated, US$19.95 plus $4 S/H, softcover.
A Field Guide to Fly Fishing, Dennis Bitton
Fly Fishing for Bass: Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Exotics, Lefty Kreh
The Lyons Press (contact information above), 2004, 159/143 pp., illustrated, $17.95/$16.95, softcover.
Fly Fishing the Striper Surf
Frank Daignault, Burford Books (contact information above), 2004, 192 pp., illustrated, $16.95, softcover.
Fly-Fishing for Bonefish, Chico Fernández
How to Fly-Fish, Cliff Hauptman
Stackpole Books (Mechanicsburg, PA), (800)732-3669 or (717)796-0411, fax: (717)796-0412, www.stackpolebooks.com, 2004, 192/113 pp., illustrated, $49.95/$12.95, hardcover/softcover.
       Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics presents Paul Marriner’s approach to stillwater fishing, based on 35 years of experiences on three continents. The first three chapters cover tackle and special casts, suitable watercraft, and standard and innovative retrieves, and the chapters in Part II unlock the secrets of finding feeding fish. Then Part III (nearly half the book) explains how to put it all together -- and catch fish. Dennis Bitton offers comprehensive introductions to 51 of the most popular fresh- and saltwater fish, along with advice on catching them, in A Field Guide to Fly Fishing. Each fish description is accompanied by full-color anatomical illustrations and recommendations for the most productive fly patterns and techniques, so you’ll have everything necessary to plan your strategy for success on the water. Master angler Lefty Kreh reveals the essentials of fly fishing for smallmouth, largemouth, and exotics in Fly Fishing for Bass. The book begins with a brief natural history of the major species of bass by Harry Middleton. Lefty then takes a look at tackle -- rods, reels, lines, leaders and flies -- explaining which type of each best suits your hunt. Lastly, he shows you where to fish, providing valuable advice on reading large and small rivers, lakes and ponds, as well as giving tips on using boats and even freeing flies from snags. Although best known as a surfcaster, Frank Daignault has fly fished for striped bass for more than 30 years. In Fly Fishing the Striper Surf, he shares the tips and techniques about equipment, timing, and the fish, that have helped him catch thousands of stripers on the fly. Chapters cover choosing waters where stripers feed, fishing in all weather conditions, a natural history of striped bass, hotspots from Maine to New Jersey, and more. Called the ghost of the flats, the silvery bonefish is the ultimate challenge in flats fishing. Chico Fernández took his first bonefish on fly in the late 1950s and has been hooked ever since. He shares his passion and expert knowledge in Fly-Fishing for Bonefish. The world of the bonefish, tackle and equipment, and catching bonefish on a fly rod are examined in-depth in this valuable reference, perfect for those preparing to take their first bonefish or those hoping to take more. Fly fishing has a reputation for being complex and difficult, and it can be both fascinating and intimidating to newcomers. Cliff Hauptman’s book, How to Fly-Fish, covers the basic essentials you need to get started and then, when you’re ready to take on more, shows you how to explore further. Hauptman discusses the rods, reels, lines, leaders, knots, flies, waders and other equipment; suggests the ten most versatile flies for freshwater fishing; and looks at common situations encountered on trout streams.

Books Archive

March/April 2004
May/June 2004
July/August 2004
September/October 2004
November/December 2004