This is the greatly-expanded second edition of a book that has been hailed by In-Fisherman as "magnificent . . . the finest, most comprehensive book on the fishes of the central United States." Featuring the artwork of nationally acclaimed fish illustrator Joseph Tomelleri, it bridges the gap between technical studies and popular field guides in a volume that is indispensable for anglers and naturalists alike.
Working with Prismacolor, graphite pencils, and painstaking attention to scientifically precise detail, Tomelleri showcases his ability with stunning illustrations that are both technically and aesthetically satisfying, while also capturing subtle variations among fishes that the camera lens misses. In this new edition he depicts 250 fishes, including 87 appearing for the first time (a more than 50% increase over the original edition), found in 21 states from the Great Lakes in the north through the Mississippi Valley to the southern tip of Texas, and west to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and Rio Grande.
Tomelleri teams up once again with Mark Eberle to provide keen insights into the ecology, natural history, and conservation of these fishes and the types of threats they face. Species accounts are informative but not technical, and are interwoven with folklore and anecdotes. Do you know, for example, what fish looks like "Mother Nature's hand-held vacuum cleaner?" Can you name a minnow that reaches five to six feet in length? Or the fish that sometimes turns up in farmers' fields-alive? What fish has a gizzard? Which one swims a victory lap after it catches its prey? Tomelleri and Eberle reveal the answers and much more in this lavishly illustrated compendium of fish facts and lore.