Told through the eyes of a longtime Montana fishing guide and itinerant fishing bum, A Good Life Wasted offers a unique perspective on an implausible period in the recent history of human civilization. When Dave Ames started guiding, Rocky Mountain locals rode horses and dug camas roots; now they're trading stock options on cell phones. The collision of stone and computer ages was short-lived, but the deep-rooted themes of this book remain.
A Good Life Wasted - a chronicle and celebration of the fishing-guide life - is poignant and spiritual; it's Blackfoot Indians and copper miners' daughters; it's fiddles and guitars and the fabric of space; it's about what happens to wild people when the wilderness is gone.
From the first chapter - in which Dave Ames recalls bluffing his way into a job as a fishing guide to the rich and famous (after barely managing to suppress the overwhelming urge to go postal at the federal agency where he suffered his first, and only, "real" job in a cubicle farm) - we're hooked. We gladly follow Ames as he describes the rite of tasting clouds of mating midges to better match the hatch, tells the story of a fabled Blackfoot fishing guide, and shares his further adventures as a guy with no job, no office, and no stress. A Good Life Wasted spins a fascinating, compelling web - a web that entices the deskbound salary slave to make a break for it, and head west to big sky and fast, cold water, ASAP.

Illustrated with step-by-step diagrams, this guide shows you all the knots you need to know for successful fishing. Proven rigs for all the popular salt and freshwater species are shown and breaking strengths, swivels, balanced tackle and fly lines are discussed.

Identify nymphs, tie imitations, and fish them successfully Casting, finding lies, detecting the strike, fishing depth, tackle, proper presentation Insights into the retrieve, nymphing the film, and finding fish in still water

Basic nymph fishing approach and presentation teams with trout physiology--what the trout sees and hears. A pictorial key to identifying nymphs is based on reliable, nonscientific characteristics that the beginner can use on stream. Presenting the fly correctly and detecting the strike are particularly elusive skills, and even the veteran fly fisher will find something useful.

WINNER OF THE JOHN AVERY AWARD AT THE ANDRE SIMON AWARDS If we can save the salmon, we can save the world Over the centuries, salmon have been a vital resource, a dietary staple and an irresistible catch. But there is so much more to this extraordinary fish. As international bestseller Mark Kurlansky reveals, salmon persist as a barometer for the health of our planet. Centuries of our greatest assaults on nature can be seen in their harrowing yet awe-inspiring life cycle. Full of all Kurlansky's characteristic curiosity and insight, Salmon is a magisterial history of a wondrous creature. 'An epic, environmental tragedy' Spectator 'These creatures have nurtured our imagination as surely as our bodies. This book does them justice!' Bill McKibben

New Zealand is one of the"hot" fly-fishing spots in the world today. Known for brilliant, crystal clear rivers, Zane Grey's New Zealand conjures up images of huge and mythic trout. In Tales of the Angler's Eldorado, Grey fishes both these now legendary streams as well as pursues the monster swordfish off the coast of the New Zealand shores. It's an adventure story and a fishing story at once.

The Dry Fly and Fast Water was written to fill a need created by the coming of the brown trout to America. The British flies and methods that followed it over here proved inapplicable. Therefore, it remained for fishing expert George La Branche to promulgate a new, distinctly American school of dry-fly angling. The proof of its validity is that today it is still widely practiced here. This remains one of the great classics of American fishing literature, covering everything from wonderfuldescriptions of fish behavior to details of the insects they feed on and the artificial flies that imitate those foods.

Lefty Kreh is one of the most experienced, well-prepared, and thoughtful anglers in the world. In 101 Fly-Fishing Tips, he shares this wealth of experience with a variety of commonsense solutions to the problems that anglers face. His tips include: how to pacify a fish; which hook-sharpening tools to use, and when; how to take a rod apart when it's stuck; what to do to avoid breaking your rod when a fish runs under your boat; how to dry waders and find leaks; why long hat brims affect casting accuracy; and much more.101 Fly-Fishing Tips is sure to improve a fly fisher's success, comfort, and enjoyment while on the water, and is a must-have for any serious angler. (51/2 X 81/4, 96 pages, b&w photos, diagrams, chart)

From Mexico to Canada, California to Maine, more people fish for bass than for all other species of game fish combined. And no one knows bass like Homer Circle. For more than fifty years, Uncle Homer, as he's widely and affectionately known, has been obsessed with these enigmatic fish. Topics include fishing the deadliest dozen lures, seasonal tactics, fly rodding for bass, successful trolling, fishing secrets of the pros, and what sounds and colors trigger bass strikes. Plus, you get Homer Circle's personal look back at over fifty years of fishing for bass across the continent. Bass Wisdom is for bass anglers everywhere - novices and pros - and it is sure to improve your skill. (6 X 9, 240 pages, b&w photos, illustrations, diagrams)

Frederic Halford is one of the greatest names in the history of modern fly fishing. His work pioneered the flies and techniques that we have come to accept as gospel. A shadow box of Halford's flies hangs on the wall of the Angler's Club of New York to this day. The Dry-Fly Man's Handbook is Halford's most significant and complete statement covering everything from equipment to fishing techniques and basic entomology. Originally published in 1913, this book remains a classic of the sport and is a must in any fly fishing book collection

Originally published in 1912, this attractive book includes 17 prominent authors who offer their knowledge of every aspect of fly fishing.

What are the secrets most fishermen miss right under their noses, which if they only knew, would instantly improve their chances of becoming the "lucky" 20% who catch all the fish, the fortunate few who know how to turn their dreams into reality? FISH ON! (SECRETS OF THE SNOOK WHISPERER) is more than a fishing guide-book, it is a guide to living, to catching big fish and landing bigger dreams. Fish On, tells the story of how author and columnist, Sloane Golden, was taken under the wing of a master fisherman from Key West--"The Snook Whisperer," and of the life-changing lessons learned... "Sloane Golden...in his book, Fish On, shows the fisherman how to dream big and catch big fish. But the book is about more than fishing, however; it's about the test of character, something every winner must have." -Foreward, Coach John Tortorella, Stanley Cup winner and Head Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning.

Stripers on the Fly is the most complete book ever written on fly fishing for striped bass. Its comprehensive advice will help those who already fly fish for stripers, as well as the freshwater fly rodder and saltwater spin angler who want to start fly fishing for this great gamefish that has made such a dramatic comeback in recent years. There is invaluable instruction for the beginning striped-bass fisherman, but also very advanced - and little known - information for the expert. Tabory covers: basic techniques for the striped-bass fly fisher; rod, reel, and line needs for all locations; special equipment; how to read different water types - and how to fish them; what fly lines work best in different situations; the best flies for various times of the year - and special circumstances; the right retrieves for different waters and fly types; how to hook, fight, land, and handle fish; how tides, weather, and time of year affect fishing; special casting tips; night-fishing techniques; beach and boat safety; and much more.Tabory's priceless tips and observations - culled from years of experience - make Stripers on the Fly a must for anyone who wants to know more about this magnificent fish and how to catch it. (71/4 X 91/2, 308 pages, color photos, b&w photos, diagrams)

Completely Revised and Updated. This popular guidebook is now better than ever with updated information on 16 Montana river fisheries and more than 100 lake fisheries. Readers benefit from the combined knowledge of more than 60 contributors! Descriptions of these waters give a complete overview plus specific tips on what flies and lures to use and which techniques work best.

The Fisherman's Companion has found its way into thousands of tackleboxes across North America and this new improved edition is even better. Read it before you leave home, and keep it with you while fishing to get the most from this handy resource.

Join the author David Adam Atwell on his adventures high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia as he hikes, camps, and learns to shoot, fish, and hunt. Laugh at his family's antics and hold your breath in anticipation of success or defeat. Visit a hunting cabin, get lost in the woods, go fishing up Cripple Creek, and learn to make moonshine. Journey on a safari across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe and back again while experiencing a field training exercise with the U.S. Army and hiking the German and Austrian Alps. Suffer through a blizzard in June and climb the highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze Don't be afraid to get wet while canoeing down Bull Run through the Manassas Battlefield or sailing on the Potomac River. Set some crab pots to catch Blue Crabs from the Chesapeake Bay and take a trip out west with Lewis and Clark to learn about celestial and land navigation. Appalachian Safari - A Virginia Mountain Man's Wild Stories has an adventure for everyone; whether you're interested in a simple summer hike along the New River, trout fishing, or a winter big game buffalo hunt in North Dakota.

Complete where-to-fish guide covering every significant body of fresh water in CT and RI, with specifics on how and where to target individual species.

From the acclaimed author of Fragrance of Grass comes a meditation on water and nature, fishing and growing older. On the Water is a gorgeously written collection of essays that all take place on or near the water and pay tribute to the flora and fauna associated with those ecosystems. There are essays about the finer points of tickling rainbow trout in the streams of Normandy, and of eagles and ospreys fishing for bass while barely breaking the surface of the water. There are stories of droughts and floods, of dogs and boats, of worms and rattlesnakes and even of catching and cooking soft-shell turtles that taste like osso-bucco. There is fishing and diving in the Bahamas, tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys, and fly fishing for sailfish in Central America. And there are larger-than-life personalities that are bigger than the fish tales they tell! On the Water is a finely honed and well crafted collection of tales for the true sportsman and makes for a perfect companion volume to la Valdene's celebrated collection of essays on hunting.

Hauptman provides step-by-step instructions on basic methods and equipment for beginner fishermen. Expert advice on all types of tackle for baitcasting, spinning, spincasting, flycastinga "and the most popular speciesa "panfish, gamefish, trout.