Howell Raines has gone fly fishing with presidents of the United States and legends of the sport, as well as relatives, childhood friends, and his two sons. Casting deep into the waters of his tumultuous and momentous life -- his storied career at the New York Times, his painful divorce, his seven-year feud with his father, his memorable friendship with fisherman/philosopher Richard C. Blalock -- Raines offers his now-classic meditation on the "disciplined, beautiful, and unessential activity" of fly fishing and the challenges and opportunities of middle age. A witty and profound celebration of life's transitions and the serene pleasures of the outdoors, Raines's memories and observations offer wisdom for the younger man, comfort for the older man, and rare insight for women into the often puzzling male psyche. "Hear me, my brothers," Raines says. "Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even adulthood."

There's an old saying among fly fishers that equipment isn't the only thing, it's everything. But the best equipment in the world will catch few fish if you don't know how to use it. Experienced anglers with dimestore equipment can outfish the superbly equipped tyro every time--because they know how it's done.

With nearly fifty years of fly fishing to look back on, Tom McNally knows how it's done, from angling for tiny brook trout in mountain streams to fly casting for giant marlin in the open ocean--and everything in between. This book is the culmination of a long and respected career as one of the world's best-known outdoor writers--the collected knowledge of almost half a century of fly fishing condensed to fit between two covers. Here, in plain language, is a complete book of fly fishing from a complete fly fisherman.

Providing all the information needed on kit and tackle, clothing and accessories, safety, and both fresh and saltwater fishing strategies, The Complete Fishing Manual is the definitive guide to fishing.

The Complete Fishing Manual looks at every type of fishing in freshwater and saltwater environments and shows how to catch everything from carp and pike to bass and catfish in streams, rivers, and lakes. Featuring the basics of casting flies and lures, playing and landing fish, and tackle, the book also provides a comprehensive cross-section of the vast array of rods, reels, and other accessories needed for this water sport.

With user friendly, step by step photography that guides readers through every technique, an international gazetteer showing the best places to fish and a lavishly illustrated directory of fish, The Complete Fishing Manual is a must have book for novices and experienced anglers alike.

For a generation, the Basic Illustrated series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you're planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Illustrated books tell you what you need to know.Before you hook yet another clump of weeds, take heart with Basic Illustrated Freshwater Fishing, a quick-reading, picture-driven guide to fishing for all ages. This reference guides you to becoming a capable and knowledgeable angler, beginning with the basics. It presents all the essentials of fishing, using various kinds of tackle, for a variety of freshwater species. Step-by-step full-color photo sequences and information-packed, clearly worded instructions are the hallmarks of this definitive resource.This book features need-to-know skills, including: * How to cast* Choosing bait* Lures, lines, and tackle* Identifying fish and learning their feeding habits* Choosing a boat* Cleaning and cooking fish* Essential knot

Make identifying fish easy and enjoyable. This field guide by Dave Bosanko features detailed information about 75 types of Minnesota fish, and the book's waterproof pages make it perfect for the dock or boat. Identify your catches with the intricately detailed fish illustrations, and verify them using the "Similar Species" comparison features. Then read fascinating facts on spawning behavior, feeding habits and more. Plus, match up your best catches against the state and North American records. With inside information for locating fishing hotspots, this book is essential for every tackle box, beach bag, RV and cabin.

In this touching memoir of his boyhood on a farm in the Ozark foothills, Harry Middleton joins the front rank of nature writers alongside Edward Hoagland and Annie Dillard.

It is the year 1965, a year rife with change in the world--and in the life of a boy whose tragic loss of innocence leads him to the healing landscape of the Ozarks. Haunted by indescribable longing, twelve-year-old Harry is turned over to two enigmatic guardians, men as old as the hills they farm and as elusive and beautiful as the trout they fish for--with religious devotion.

Seeking strength and purpose from life, Harry learns from his uncle, grandfather, and their eccentric neighbor, Elias Wonder, that the pulse of life beats from within the deep constancy of the earth, and from one's devotion to it. Amidst the rhythm of an ancient cadence, Harry discovers his home: a farm, a mountain stream, and the eye of a trout rising.

This book grew from the author's desire to consolidate the many teachings that he uses in his popular fly-fishing classes. It is a textbook that includes concise and selective commentary on tackle, casting, tactics, flies and fly tying, and other related topics. The word "companion" derives from "one with whom we share our bread." After more than fifty years of fly fishing, the author would like to sit at the streamside and share these observations with readers. Here is the knowledge and understanding that he wished he had when he began fly fishing.
While the handmade steel hooks, horsehair lines, and carefully crafted wooden loop-rods have long given way to nylon and fluorocarbon leaders, multipiece graphite rods, and synthetic lines, the fundamentals of the craft have remained basically the same. In The Fly-Fisher's Companion, the author carefully goes through all the basics, all within the context of modern fly-fishing situations.
This companion may serve as a foundation or a supplement for fly-fishing instruction. It may also be a reminder or reference for the more experienced angler. As a retired educator, the author recognizes that instructors present material in different ways. Instructors may wish to select only those topics that fit their syllabus while omitting others. Over the years, these instructions and commentary have produced a host of competent fly fishers. We all learn by image, word, and action. Since the sepia days of Walton and Cotton, fly fishing has been an enthralling sport. And, as this companion hopefully makes clear, there is more to fishing than fish. There is an infinite amount of pleasure in learning a skill and doing it well.