In 1981, when he was thirty-three and had just caught what was then the largest British carp, Chris Yates wondered if he could now dream of capturing Redmire's Pool's real monster: the King. But far from the King itself, it was the idea of such a leviathan that hooked Chris that summer, playing him along the banks for one final season before releasing him back into the world. Chris's account of those pivotal months - originally published as The Lost Diary - recounts the final reckoning of an angler's long relationship with a beloved and mysterious pool. It is also a magical record of both familiar and freshly discovered waters, meetings with new friends, and unexpected encounters with creatures other than fish and presences that are not quite human.

If John Gierach is living in a fool's paradise, then it's a paradise that his regular readers will recognize and new fans will delight in discovering. Laced with the inimitable blend of wit and wisdom that have made him fly-fishing's foremost scribe, "Fool's Paradise" chronicles the fishing life in all its glory (catching your biggest fish ever) and squalor (being stranded in a tent during a soaking rainstorm). In Gierach's world, both experiences are valuable, and both evoke humor and insight.

Fishermen everywhere will understand Gierach's quest to discover and explore new waters (and then not to divulge the best locations to anyone), the unlikely appeal of winter fly-fishing ("the ice fishing shanty served the dual purpose of group therapy and the neighborhood tavern"), how impossible it is to predict the best fishing ("Everything that happens is entirely familiar, but I don't always see it coming"), or even the absurdity of the entire exercise ("day after day, you're casting a fly that doesn't look like anything to fish that aren't hungry and may not even be there"). Braving trips on small prop planes and down "Oh-My-God" roads alike, Gierach and his fishing buddies pursue bull trout in British Columbia, steelhead in the Rocky Mountains, and pike so fierce that a wise fisherman wears Kevlar gloves for the obligatory trophy photo.

But as with any activity that depends on unspoiled wilderness, change is constant. Gierach sees this happening both in the landscape ("You never get to point at a meadow full of browsing mule deer and say, 'You know, all this was once condos.'") and at lodges that now require guests to sign liability waivers ("[I] had a brief vision of herds of lawyers coursing over the tundra in search of litigation"). Just the same, he is always awed by the experience of nature, or as he puts it: "You're on a lovely, remote wilderness river in the Alaskan backcountry. There are people who would make this trip and not even bring a fishing rod."

Musing on the enduring appeal of fishing, Gierach theorizes, "We're so used to the fake and the packaged that encountering something real can amount to a borderline religious experience." Equal parts fishing lore, philosophy, and great fish stories, "Fool's Paradise" may not be a perfect substitute for actually being out on the water, but it's surely the next best thing.

Acclaimed sporting and adventure writer Charles Gaines has spent much of his life on the water, around the world, fishing rod in hand, angling for trout, redfish, salmon, bonefish, bass, marlin, tuna, and practically everything else that swims. Just about any place where there's water to fish and eccentrics to keep him company, Gaines has been. The Next Valley Over, a collection of his best writing on fishing from his long and storied career, is culled from the pages of Men's Journal, Forbes, and Sports Afield, among other publications, and ultimately is about the heart of the sport. While his stories are lined with the accoutrement of angling--the art of technique, the equipment, the lodges, the fish themselves--they're really about why we love to fish and what it means to our culture. As Thoreau once said: "Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." What "they are after" is what Charles is curious about, and he has devoted the better part of his life and sanity to coming up with answers. Starting and ending at the majestic Lake Tadpole in St. Clair County, Alabama, where Gaines's love of fishing was initially sparked, the Next Valley Over chronicles exploits in exotic locations with eccentric characters. In the process of his quest of nearly every species known to man, Gaines explores what we are really searching for when we fish.

This is a tale of human obsession, one intrepid tuna, the dedicated fisherman who caught and set her free, the promises and limits of ocean science and the big truth of how our insatiable appetite for bluefin transformed a cottage industry into a global dilemma. In 2004, an enigmatic charter captain named Al Anderson caught and marked one Atlantic bluefin tuna off New England’s coast with a plastic fish tag. Fourteen years later that fish – dubbed Amelia for her ocean-spanning journeys – died in a Mediterranean fish trap, sparking Karen Pinchin’s riveting investigation into the marvels, struggles, and prehistoric legacy of this remarkable species. Over his fishing career Al marked more than sixty thousand fish with plastic tags, an obsession that made him nearly as many enemies as it did friends. His quest landed him in the crossfire of an ongoing fight between a booming bluefin tuna industry and desperate conservation efforts, a conflict that is once again heating up as overfishing and climate change threaten the fish’s fate. Kings of Their Own Ocean is an urgent investigation that combines science, business, crime, and environmental justice. As Pinchin writes, ‘as a global community, we are collectively only ever a few terrible choices away from wiping out any ocean species.’ Through her exclusive access and interdisciplinary, mesmerizing lens, readers will join her on boats and docks as she visits tuna hot spots and scientists from Portugal to Japan, New Jersey to Nova Scotia, and glimpse, as the author does, rays of dazzling hope for the future of our oceans.

This fascinating book is one in a series of books for professional and amateur fishermen. Sold as a series or as individuals these books cover every spectrum of specialist fishing. The information in this book of Sea Fishing covers every aspect o0f the sport. The bait you should use, the way you should use them and most importantly it describes the history of the fish included in the book. Over 400 species of fish are described, the way they have been caught and how to catch them. Truly insightful and suitable for all fishermen either a serious sportsman or someone who wants to get started n this sport, what more could you want!. Originally published in 1895 this is a faithfully reproduced book and will inform you on how to fish from land, small boats and large yachts'.

This fascinating book is one in a series of books for professional and amateur fishermen. Sold as a series or as individuals these books cover every spectrum of specialist fishing. The information in this book from 1921 covers so many aspects of the sport. The Cormorants today are treated as a threat to UK anglers, but in China in 1921 these birds were considered as an aide to fisherman because of their skills. The history from 200 BC to the 1920's is truly a story that any serious or amateur fisherman would love to read. The illustrations are so informative and did you know that a score of snails would cost you 1/2d in 1906 - today you will pay GBP10 for 6. A fabulous present or just a brilliant read for anyone interested in fishing.

This fascinating book is one in a series of books for professional and amateur fishermen. Sold as a series or as individuals these books cover every spectrum of specialist fishing. The Fly and Worm fishing book covers the specific pursuit of knowledge in Salmon, Trout and Grayling which is a current huge topic of interest. There are many sources of information available to research current trends however this original and unaltered publication dated from 1885 is as valuable today as it was when it was first published. This book is absolutely packed with information about the fish, the types of bait that attracts them, how to make or find them and the when and where to look for them. This book is suitable for professional and amateur fishermen and is absolutely wonderful as a reference book or as a reasonable but indulgent gift.

The Southern Surfcaster will increase your knowledge of fishing and help you develop into a more confident salt-water fisherman. Explore creative techniques and the latest strategies that have transformed the sport over the last decade. Many of the old-school methods of fishing are updated for modern practicality. The Southern Surfcaster will change the way you think and what you thought you knew about salt water fishing.

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.
For the first time, two of John Gierach's most popular fishing books are collected in one volume--a double dose of delight for longtime fans or first-time visitors to Gierach country.
As Gierach astutely observes in "Dances with Trout, ""Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It's not even clear if catching fish is actually the point." This observation might also describe Gierach's writing--catching fish might be the subject, but most of the fun and (mis)adventure comes well before that point. Whether it's fishing close to home waters (Colorado) or farther afield (Alaska, Scotland, Texas); ice-fishing, tournament fishing, or night fishing; fishing for trout, salmon, carp, splake, or grayling; fishing with familiar companions like A.K. Best or the enigmatic "Zen master among fishing guides"; no detail of the fishing life is too insignificant or too absurd for Gierach.
As he writes in "Another Lousy Day in Paradise, ""The real truth about fly-fishing is, it is beautiful beyond description in almost every way, and when a certain kind of person is confronted with a certain kind of beauty, they are either saved or ruined for life, or a little bit of both." So start reading and be saved--or ruined--by Gierach's wonderful insights into the world around us.

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.
In "No Shortage of Good Days "John Gierach takes readers from the Smokies in Tennessee to his home waters in Colorado, from the Canadian Maritimes to Mexico--saltwater or fresh, it's all fishing and all irresistible. As always he writes perceptively about a wide range of subjects: the charm of familiar waters, the etiquette of working with new fishing guides, night fishing when the trout and the mosquitoes are both biting, and fishing snobbery, a pitfall he seems to have largely avoided: "A friend and I recently realized that making fly-fishing a way of life instead of a hobby has made us a couple of pretty one-dimensional characters. On the other hand, we agreed we're two of the happiest people we know, albeit in a simple-minded sort of way."
Gierach again demonstrates the wit, eloquence, and insight that have become his trademarks. "No Shortage of Good Days "is the next best thing to a day of fishing.

"Few angler-authors can match the skill and insight of Steve Raymond. . . . Raymond leads his reader to a refined and refreshed understanding of what the natural world is really all about."--The New York Times Perhaps the most innovative fly-fishing writer of his generation, Steve Raymond reaches a new level in this collection of five short stories and a novella. Here you'll learn the fate of the world's first genetically modified fly fisher, discover the secret behind the amazing success of an isolated little fly shop, and find out what was really going on between the sainted Theodore Gordon and his mysterious young woman fishing companion. You'll witness the suspenseful trial of the world's most famous fly fisher, chuckle at the tale of an angler who outwitted the Internal Revenue Service and his own accountant, and laugh out loud at the "real" story behind the first words ever written about fly fishing. And you'll agree with the words of Arnold Gingrich in his classic work, The Fishing in Print: "Such books, and such authors, are rare, and Raymond is somebody simply not to be missed."

The pros featured in Bassing with the Best are just that, the best They know where to locate bass, how bass behave, and which lures and techniques work best under almost any conditions. Here, for the first time, America's top tournament legends--including Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon, Kevin VanDam, Denny Brauer, and many more--share the special techniques they have spent decades perfecting. Now, using their winning tactics, you too can emulate the pros and dramatically improve your success in catching bass.

The experts have proven that from California to New York, and from Washington, D.C., to Florida, all across America these techniques apply. Focusing on specifics, the pros reveal hundreds of little-known secrets, inside tips, and practical advice, so anglers of all abilities can gain the same edge. Packed with a wealth of up-to-date information, Bassing with the Best is presented in a clear, easy-to-read format with explanatory illustrations. Now you can maximize success and enjoyment, while utilizing the minimum in tackle, lures, and gear.

Each autumn, one of nature's most magnificent dramas plays out when striped bass undertake a journey, from the northeastern United States to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, in search of food and warmer seas. Writer and angler David DiBenedetto followed this great migration -- the fall run -- for three months in the autumn of 2001.

On the Run offers vivid portrayals of the zany and obsessive characters DiBenedetto met on his travels -- including the country's most daring fisherman, an underwater videographer who chucked his corporate job in favor of filming striped bass, and the reclusive angler who claims that catching the world-record striper in 1982 sent his life into a tailspin. Along his route, DiBenedetto also delves into the natural history and biology of this great game fish, and depicts the colorful cultures of the seaside communities where the striped bass reigns supreme.

It is axiomatic that the goal of any fisherman is to catch fish! However, this is not always as easy as simply casting a line or throwing a net into the water. Some fish are wily, and know how to avoid the hooks, lures or bait that has been set for them. As a species, bass regularly elude even the most canny angler.

Author Gareth Coombs has experienced the frustration and the pleasure of trying to catch this often-aggressive, predatory sportfish. Bass Fishing in South Africa is his response to many years of patiently studying currents, wind, temperature and the underwater landscape of the lakes, dams and rivers where he fishes for bass.

His analysis of the underwater environment and water characteristics, as well as the behaviour traits, sensory capabilities and nesting habits of largemouth black bass, allows him to present a tackle-box’s worth of tricks and tools for the keen bass fisherman. Knowing how a fish might behave at certain times of the year, or under certain weather conditions, improves the angler’s chance of making a catch.

As a scientist who is mindful of the importance of conservation, Gareth also covers how to handle a captured fish and return it safely to the water.

Just as "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance used motorcycle repair as a metaphor for the examination of self, Howell Raines uses his lifelong experiences as a fly fisherman to explore his life, politics, gender, roles as a son, husband, father, and journalist, and his attitudes toward aging and mortality. A man who has fished with presidents and Southern friends as well as with his own two sons, Raines chronicles his progress from "the Redneck way of fishing" for quantity and food to the catch-and-release way of his friend and mentor Dick Blalock. Blalock taught Raines that fly fishing is about attitude and friendship, not about catching fish. Raines imparts tips on casting and stream beds gracefully, along with his love for what he calls "waters that move" as he explores the deep funk he fell into at midlife, complete with a divorce, a seven-year feud with his father and brother, and the all-consuming animosity he allowed himself to develop toward his boss at work. By casting into the waters of his own life -- and ultimately reconciling with middle age -- Howell Raines has written a literate, contemplative celebration of life and friendship.

When James Prosek was just fifteen, a ranger named Joe Haines caught him fishing without a permit in a stream near Prosek's home in Connecticut. But instead of taking off with his fishing buddy, James put down his rod and surrendered. It was a move that would change his life forever. Expecting a small fine and a lecture, James instead received enough knowledge about fishing and the great outdoors to last a lifetime.

The story of an unlikely friendship, Joe and Me is a book for those who remember the mentor in their life, the one who changed the way they look at the world.

With guidance and tips on modern tackle, fly lines and flies, and many delightful photographs, the 'Little Book of Fly Fishing for Trout' will help you to improve your tactics, techniques and your catches.

How many of your fishing trips can you recall in any real detail? How often do you wish you had kept a note of what you caught, when you caught it and exactly how much that huge carp weighed on the scales? In his Angler's Journal, John Tomsett offers you the opportunity to keep a record of your angling adventures whilst being entertained by 52 tales from his fishing life. From watching his dad hook a reluctant chub, to catching a trout with his own son - via a near death experience trawling for tuna on the Indian Ocean - Tomsett explores the thrills and disappointments of a lifetime spent fishing. Tomsett's writing captures the camaraderie of fishing with friends and the tranquillity of angling alone. His tales brim with philosophical reflections and describe precisely what it feels like when you're battling a decent fish intent on throwing the hook. This is an absorbing, beautifully illustrated book, which will ensure you can always remember what it felt like on that day, long ago, when you struck into a fish bigger than you could ever have imagined.