The Silver Invicta is a stream of impressions from a fishing life, in its varying moods, coloured with plenty of whisky and eccentric company. Join Tom Harland on his light-hearted journeys with his fly rod; take part in his triumphs and disasters on rough, wild camping trips and share his encounters with the wildlife of Scotland's rivers and lochs. The 'Silver Invicta' was the traditional fly which was taken by Tom's first salmon and is also a nod to the spirit of Scotland's embattled migratory fish. Tom has fished throughout his local Scottish Borders, England, the Western Isles and New Zealand (a country he lived and worked in for two years), but his real passion is for the brown trout of the hill lochs of Assynt in the North-west Highlands. Open this treasure trove of a book to share the pleasure the author finds through fishing respectfully in magical, wild, and seldom-visited places.

‘An absolute gem ... I was delightfully lost by the river throughout’ - Paul Whitehouse ‘Marvellous…The Catch leaves both its writer and its reader wonderfully "lost in water"’ - Robert Macfarlane ‘Penetrating and poetic, filled with honeyed prose and thoughtful criticism’ - The Times _______________ It is in the midst of a swirling river, casting a line, that Mark Wormald meets Ted Hughes. He stands where the poet stood, forty years ago, because fishing was Ted Hughes’s way of breathing – and because the poet's writing has made Mark understand that it has always been his way of breathing, too. Using Hughes’s poetry collection River and his fishing diaries as a guide, Mark returns again and again to the rivers and lakes in Britain and Ireland where the poet fished. At times, he uses Ted's fly patterns; at others his rods. It is an obsession; a fundamental connection to nature; a thrilling wildness; an elemental pursuit. But it is also a release and a consolation, as Mark fishes after the sudden death of his mother and during the slow fading of his father. A brilliant blend of memoir and biography, The Catch is a stunning meditation on poetry and nature, and a quiet reflection on what it means to be a father and a son.

It is more than a thousand years since the exploitation of the elephant began.

From award winning novelist and journalist David Profumo comes a dazzling work about the restorative power of nature and finding joy in simple pleasures. 'David Profumo has fished everywhere man and boy, and come back with his creel crammed with adventures and misadventures - a memoir for every fisherman's bookshelf.' Tom Stoppard It is often said there is more to the experience of fishing than the mere catching of fish, and in this evocative, wide-ranging memoir he explores the delights and mysteries of one of mankind's most ancient pursuits. As we move from the Highland waters of his childhood and into his adult travels from the Arctic Circle to the South Seas, The Lightning Thread unpeels this idiosyncratic subject, and shows how it embraces folklore, poetry, magic, drink and disaster. By turns a lyrical celebration of the natural world and also the quirkiness of human nature itself, this is a hymn to the great happiness that pursuing his life's passion has brought the author. In exuberant prose of warmth, wit and lightly worn erudition, this is a future classic from one of our finest writers - across forty countries and sixty years, one man's quest for perfection. 'With wit, quiet craft, and a lifetime's store of piscatorial wisdom, Profumo draws us into his paradise.' Luke Jennings, author of the Killing Eve novels 'A fabulous confection of history, biology, philosophy and memoir...spiked with wit and crafted with precision and style.' Loyd Grossman 'An angling master and a dazzling writer. Everyone remotely interested in fishing, or writing, would love this book.' Prue Leith 'The Lightning Thread is a delicious account of a lifetime spent among interesting fish, people and places by a compulsive angler who seems to have forgotten nothing. Unimaginable that any fisherman could put it down.' Thomas McGuane, author of The Longest Silence

"You can't learn anything from fishing books and videos, but once you had to buy a lot of them to find that out. Now all you need to buy is this one book!"--Brian R. Peterson A collection of the best and funniest jokes and cartoons about fishing, with special emphasis on bass fishing (and gear) and fly fishing. Companion outdoor book to Laughing it Up in Deer Camp, Hook, Lyin' & Sinker is an unusually rich collection of fishing humor not found elsewhere. A good humor book for those of good humor, smartly curated for all ages and genders. It's for people who may or not fish who need a laugh or want to give a laugh to friends and family members who fish any water, any fish species, and any technique.

Mike Thrussell is one of the most recognisable names and faces in UK angling. Addicted To Angling is a detailed account of his lifetime's obsession with fish and fishing, following an ever expanding road of adventure, travel and personal growth. Taken in to the heart and mind of the author, readers will recognise and relate to the moment he crosses the line from being a fisherman to becoming an obsessive angler - one of a rare breed who have forged an entire career from the sport they love. It is a view of an often hidden world, but one that will open up opportunities for others that feel they too may, or must, follow a similar path.But Addicted to Angling is more than a personal journey: there is much to learn, too, and the detailed description of the capture of some incredible and unusual fish leaves readers with a wealth of tactics used to target not just the big fish, but also a wide number of individual species in the UK and across the globe.

Fly-fishing is a multifaceted sport that will absorb you in its reality, taking you to places of exceptional beauty, to explore and to revel in the solitude. It is so often spoken of as an art form while fly-tying, inextricably linked to fly-fishing, is in its own right a form of artistry.

South African Fishing Flies is a celebration of this artistry – the innovation, the talents of the originators and their vision of imagination, masters of the craft – and of all the fly-tyers of South Africa. It is not an exhaustive reference to all South African flies, but is rather an anthology of those that by virtue of their innovation in design, materials used and tying techniques have helped shape and, in some cases, change the thinking on fly-tying in this country.

It is also a visual celebration of these flies, the waters we fish, an introduction to some of the individuals in our fly-fishing community, and creators of South African flies.

The history of pearling is inextricably linked to the history of Bahrain, the strategically-located Gulf archipelago set amidst one of the richest and most plentiful pearl fisheries in the world. Sea of Pearls tells the story of pearl fishing in the Gulf, and the role that this timeless industry played in global commerce, fashion, urban development, political struggles and the earliest ever long-distance maritime trade. From the 18th to 20th centuries, the industry boomed, as pearls were fished by ever-increasing numbers of tribesmen and townspeople to feed an expanding international market. Bahrain was at the centre of this activity before the industry's collapse in the early 20th century with the introduction of cultured pearls from Japan. The influx of traders, migrants, merchants and political advisors - each seeking to partake in the booming trade - left an indelible mark on the Gulf, germinating new city-states with cosmopolitan communities, which are now the global metropolises that we know today. Launching with the generous support of the Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Sea of Pearls spotlights Bahrain's UNESCO-listed 'Pearling Path', a 3.5 km pathway taking visitors on a journey from the oyster beds of Muharraq to the historical merchant homes and other structures involved in the pearling economy. Lavishly illustrated, this book covers in unprecedented detail the history, development, impact and florescence of this ancient industry before it died out and was eclipsed in the age of oil. It is essential reading, not only for those wishing to understand the historical growth and geopolitical dynamics of pearl fishing, but also for those interested in the history and origins of the Gulf states. It is the fascinating, seldom-told story behind the world's enduring desire for one of humankind's most prized precious stones.

In this hands-on, how-to guide to fishing North Carolina's Outer Banks, expert fisherman Stan Ulanski combines his enthusiasm, his experience, and his scientific expertise to show anglers how to catch more fish. Focusing on the essential but often misunderstood links between recreational fishing and the biology, geography, and natural history of the region, Fishing North Carolina's Outer Banks fosters an understanding of the aquatic environment of one of the nation's prime fishing destinations. Ulanski reveals the best approaches to the six main Outer Banks angling scenarios: surf, pier, sound, offshore, inshore, and reef, ledge, and shipwreck fishing. The book features illustrated fish profiles--each loaded with essential information, including identification, food value, and habitat pointers--and species-specific fishing tips for thirty-five of the Outer Banks' most common game fish. And, once you've made your catch, Ulanski provides important storing, cleaning, and cooking advice--including six of his favorite fresh fish recipes. This is a trusty tackle box tool for planning fishing trips to the Outer Banks and for understanding the underwater setting of the fish you're out to catch. Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press |In this hands-on, how-to guide to fishing North Carolina's Outer Banks, Ulanski combines his enthusiasm, his experience, and his scientific expertise to show anglers how to catch more fish. The book features illustrated fish profiles--each loaded with essential information, including identification, food value, and habitat pointers--species-specific fishing tips for thirty-five of the Outer Banks' most common game fish; important storing, cleaning, and cooking advice; and six of Ulanski's favorite fresh fish recipes.

This guide gives you a quick, clear understanding of the essential information you'll need to fly fish North Carolina's most outstanding waters.

’I can’t recall us ever talking about anything other than eels and how to best catch them, down there by the stream. Actually, I can’t remember us speaking at all. Maybe because we never did.’

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is one of the strangest creatures nature ever created. Remarkably little is known about the eel, even today. What we do know is that it’s born as a tiny willow-leaf shaped larva in the Sargasso Sea, travels on the ocean currents toward the coasts of Europe – a journey of about four thousand miles that takes at least two years. Upon arrival, it transforms itself into a glass eel and then into a yellow eel before it wanders up into fresh water. It lives a solitary life, hiding from both light and science, for ten, twenty, fifty years, before migrating back to the sea in the autumn, morphing into a silver eel and swimming all the way back to the Sargasso Sea, where it breeds and dies.

And yet . . . There is still so much we don’t know about eels. No human has ever seen eels reproduce; no one can give a complete account of the eel’s metamorphoses or say why they are born and die in the Sargasso Sea; no human has even seen a mature eel in the Sargasso Sea. Ever. And now the eel is disappearing, and we don’t know exactly why.

What we do know is that eels and their mysterious lives captivate us.

This is the basis for The Gospel of the Eels, Patrik Svensson’s quite unique natural science memoir; his ongoing fascination with this secretive fish, but also the equally perplexing and often murky relationship he shared with his father, whose only passion in life was fishing for this obscure creature.

Through the exploration of eels in literature (Günter Grass and Graham Swift feature, amongst others) and the history of science (we learn about Aristotle’s and Sigmund Freud’s complicated relationships with eels) as well as modern marine biology (Rachel Carson and others) we get to know this peculiar animal. In this exploration, we also learn about the human condition, life and death, through natural science and nature writing at its very best.

As Patrik Svensson concludes: 'by writing about eels, I have in some ways found my way home again.'

The deadliest animal of all time meets the world's most legendary hunter in a classic battle between man and wild. But this pulse-pounding narrative is also a nuanced story of how colonialism and environmental destruction upset the natural order, placing man, tiger and nature on a collision course. In Champawat, India, circa 1900, a Bengal tigress was wounded by a poacher in the forests of the Himalayan foothills. Unable to hunt her usual prey, the tiger began stalking and eating an easier food source: human beings. Between 1900 and 1907, the Champawat Man-Eater, as she became known, emerged as the most prolific serial killer of human beings the world has ever known, claiming an astonishing 436 lives. Desperate for help, authorities appealed to renowned local hunter Jim Corbett, an Indian-born Brit of Irish descent, who was intimately familiar with the Champawat forest. Corbett, who would later earn fame and devote the latter part of his life to saving the Bengal tiger and its habitat, sprang into action. Like a detective on the tail of a serial killer, he tracked the tiger's movements, as the tiger began to hunt him in return. This was the beginning of Corbett's life-long love of tigers, though his first encounter with the Champawat Tiger would be her last.

No one understands the challenges and frustrations of the outdoorsman's life like John Troy, and no one makes the maddening business of hunting so riotously funny. Anyone still kicking himself over a missed shot, anyone wishing that his hunting dog had paid more attention in obedience school, or anyone who has ever been confounded by the antics of a pesky squirrel will enjoy this hugely delightful collection. In typical John Troy style, readers are treated to one-panel lampoons of shooters who can't hit stuffed animals, bears that beat up hunters, and ducks that make their own decoys. They're funny because they're true. Hilarious Hunting Cartoons will delight both novice and experienced hunters and will make an excellent gift for the passionate hunter.

Malachy Tallack has been passionate about fishing since he was young. Growing up in Shetland, with its myriad lochs, he and his brother would roam the island in search of trout, and in so doing discovered a sense of freedom, of wonder, and an abiding passion. But why is it that catching a fish - or simply contemplating catching a fish - can be so thrilling, so captivating? Why is it that time spent beside water can be imprinted so sharply in the memory? Why is it that what seems such a simple act - that of casting a line and hoping - can feel so rich in mystery? Illuminated by Water is Malachy's personal attempt to understand that freedom, and to trace the origins and sources of that sense of wonder. He shares the appeal of fishing, its intense joys and frustrations, the steadying effect it has both at water's edge and in the memory, and the contemplation of nature and landscape that comes with being an angler. He writes about fishing expeditions, from English canals and Scottish lochs to lakes in Canada and New Zealand, and he reflects on other aspects of angling, from its cultural significance and the emerging moral complexities to the intricacies of tying a fly. Beautifully written and hugely engaging, this book both articulates the inexplicable lure of the river and the endless desire to return to it, and illuminates a passion that has shaped the way so many see and think about the natural world.

This book is an in-depth guide to all aspects of angling, illustrated with more than 450 practical and identification photographs. It includes the descriptions and information on the various species, where to fish for them and what features to look out for. It includes an advice on the types of bait and the tackle to use to guarantee success. It offers tactical information that helps you identify the best places to fish for each species. It includes a special feature on fishing abroad, written and photographed by internationally renowned angler John Wilson. Fishing is enjoyed in different forms all over the world by people of all ages and abilities. This volume is a guide to all aspects of game, coarse and sea angling. It features descriptions of the various species, information on where to fish and what to look for, and advice on the best types of bait and tackle to catch the fish you are hunting. If you feel adventurous and want to travel further afield, the book also includes a special chapter on fishing abroad. From Spain to South Africa, you will be tempted to take a trip and share the excitement of fighting those monster catches.The book is particularly useful for those wanting to expand their skills and explore new possibilities.