Fishing Lessons

With honesty, wit and erudition, the acclaimed author of Pavlov’s Trout delves into the philosophical lessons learned from a lifetime of fishing. Despite its title, Fishing Lessons will not show readers how to fish. In fact, you don't even have to like to fish to enjoy and appreciate the latest book from renowned psychologist, fisherman, and essayist Paul Quinnett. Fishing Lessons is a rich mix of anecdotes, observations, essays, short stories, one-liners, and personal revelations from Quinnett's rich life and fishing journals. In his straightforward style, Quinnett rounds out the trilogy that began with Pavlov's Trout and Darwin's Bass, the first books ever written on the psychology of fishing. This time he tackles the philosophy of fishing—a philosophy of enjoying life. Over the course of its pages, Fishing Lessons provides satisfying essays that won't so much teach you about fishing as they will teach you about yourself.

Fish bones in the caves of East Timor reveal that humans have systematically fished the seas for at least 42,000 years. But in recent centuries, our ancient, vital relationship with the oceans has changed faster than the tides. As boats and fishing technology have evolved, traditional fishermen have been challenged both at sea and in the marketplace by large-scale fishing companies whose lower overhead and greater efficiency guarantee lower prices. In Fishing Lessons, Kevin M. Bailey captains a voyage through the deep history and present course of this sea change—a change that has seen species depleted, ecosystems devastated, and artisanal fisheries transformed into a global industry afloat with hundreds of billions of dollars per year. Bailey knows these waters, the artisanal fisheries, and their relationship with larger ocean ecology intimately. In a series of place-based portraits, he shares stories of decline and success as told by those at the ends of the long lines and hand lines, channeling us through the changing dynamics of small-scale fisheries and the sustainability issues they face—both fiscal and ecological. We encounter Paolo Vespoli and his tiny boat, the Giovanni Padre,in the Gulf of Naples; Wenche, a sea Sámi, one of the indigenous fisherwomen of Norway; and many more. From salmon to abalone, the Bay of Fundy to Monterey and the Amazon, Bailey’s catch is no fish tale. It is a global story, casting a net across waters as vast and distinct as Puget Sound and the Chilean coast. Sailing across the world, Bailey explores the fast-shifting current of how we gather food from the sea, what we gain and what we lose with these shifts, and potential solutions for the murky passage ahead.

From the wisdom of fishing legend Mo Bradley, an essential guide to fly fishing for trout in the Thompson-Okanagan. Among fly fishers, the Kamloops region in British Columbia’s Thompson-Okanagan is known as one of the best places in the world for catching trout. It owes its reputation in part to Mo Bradley, a man of humble origins now known as a pioneer of fly-fishing culture. In Trout School, award-winning author and journalist Mark Hume passes on what he’s learned from his countless hours on—and off—the lake with the master. Drawing from more than twenty years of fishing and friendship, Hume distills the best of Mo’s essential knowledge, including tips and tricks for catching Kamloops trout year-round, detailed instructions for tying thirteen signature flies, and advice for a more respectful and ecologically conscious approach to fishing. But Trout School is more than just a guidebook. Hume illustrates these lessons with beautifully descriptive stories about his own times on the water—with Mo, by himself, or teaching his own young daughters to fish. Illustrated with stunning paintings by BC artist Nana Cook, the result is both a thoughtful tribute to a fly-fishing legend and an invaluable resource for experienced anglers and novices alike.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has over 800 miles of wild-trout waters, many of which provide exceptional fly fishing for brook, brown, and rainbow trout. In this comprehensive guidebook to the park’s best fishing, locals Ian and Charity Rutter share best access areas, seasonal strategies, and best tactics and techniques for making the most out of your park adventure. They also include detailed information about the hatches and best fly patterns to use throughout the year.

Hook up with the fly-fishing guide that’s a keeper Some say successful fly fishing requires supreme athleticism, a surgeon’s delicate touch, and the serene spirit of a Zen master. But forget the hype: The updated edition of Fly Fishing for Dummies shows that all you need to get the hang of this enjoyable sport are the right tools, a disciplined technique, and a positive attitude. Whether you’re an old salt or dipping your toes in for the first time, you’ll find everything you need to learn, improve, and keep your casting sharp and fresh! Longtime fishing writer Peter Kaminsky wades right in, taking you from choosing a rod and tying flies all the way through to staying dry with the right wardrobe and cooking up a delicious catch. You’ll also find out how you can get by with just 20 flies, a half dozen casts, and three knots. And, if you want to plunge deeper into the sport, he suggests some bucket-list destination rivers and streams to keep you agreeably hooked and learning for life—proving that the father of fishing writers Izaak Walton was right when, three centuries ago, he said: “No life is so pleasant and happy as that of a well-governed angler.” Study your quarry—from rainbow trout to fashionable “glamour” fish Get the best rod, reel, and gear for success—including the smartest tech Know where to fish (land or sea) and how to read the water Follow visual examples to sharpen your casting Whatever your fly-fishing aims or skill level, the proven advice and 150+ illustrations in this friendly guide are your path to a lifetime of happy and productive trips: Don’t let it be the one that got away!

You’re no idiot, of course. You know that the joy of fishing comes with skill, patience, and the right equipment. You can get yourself to the water and relax, but when it comes to baiting your hook and casting your cares away, you feel like a minnow swimming with the sharks! Don’t throw back your angling ambitions just yet! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Fishing Basics, Second Edition gives you the essentials for a successful fishing expedition—whether you’re heading for the local creek or the high seas. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • An emergency fishing guide to help get you started immediately • The lowdown on tackle—hooks, lines, sinkers, and more • All the right moves to feel, hook, play, and land your catch • The bottom line on what you’ll need (and need to do) if you want to flyfish, saltwater fish, or fish in still waters

Strategies for fast, slow, dirty, high, or low waterUsing familiar patterns and techniques in unusual waysWhat to do when trout are uncooperative for no good reasonWhat do you do when your best attempts to match the hatch and make drag-free-drift presentations fail? Ed Engle lets go of preconceived notions and allows the trout and river to inform him and you. He has found the best solutions to challenges that vex fly anglers everywhere, and he shares what he has learned in straightforward, no-nonsense lessons for finding and taking even the toughest trout

A cultural anthropologist from California, Wolfe spent twenty years in Alaska documenting the traditional hunting and fishing practices of Alaska Natives and discovered much about sustainable relationships between people and nature. In this series of thought-provoking essays contrasting California and Alaska - worlds far apart yet connected by peoples, cultural traditions, and ecology - he challenges readers to reflect on their own personal conduct within nature and within our multicultural world.