Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Praise
Table of Contents
Introduction - LAMAR UNDERWOOD
Foreword - STU APTE
PART ONE - BEFORE YOU GO ...
CHAPTER 1 - Reflections on Angling: Inspiration and Information You Can Use
1. Best Fishing Tip Ever Heard
2. Confidence: Fishing’s Great Leveler
3. The Thing About Fishing Is . . .
4. It’s Not Just Luck
5. One to Remember
6. A Creed for Visiting Anglers
7. Time to Go Fishing
8. Fishing Knowledge Simplified
9. The “Fightinist” Quote About the “Gamest” Fish
10. Why a Fishing “Rod” Is Not a “Pole”
11. A Tip on Staying Young
12. The Call of the River
13. The Reason Why
14. A Fly-Fisher’s Confession
15. Presidential Advice
16. The Lure of Fly Fishing
17. Portrait of a Perfect Trout Stream
CHAPTER 2 - Set for Success: These Tips Can Make Your Day—Or Even Your Trip
18. Going on Vacation? Hire a Guide
19. Google Has the Answers
20. Saltwater Reel Protection
21. Boat Rides Need Raingear
22. If Your Boat Turns Over . . .
23. Busting Open Those Painted-Over Jig Eyes
24. Those Best Times to Fish Gimmicks
25. Foggy Weather Fishing: Forget About It!
26. Minnow Bucket Helper
27. Enjoying the Gentler, Kinder Bass Fishing
28. Rivers vs. Reservoirs
29. Old Impoundments Mean Tougher Fishing
30. Farm Pond Fishing 101
31. Get That Hook Out
32. Good Time to Go Fishing
33. Asking the Right Question
34. The Most Useless Thing in All Fishing Is . . .
35. Stringing Up Your Fly Rod
36. Carrying Your Rod: Tip First or Butt First?
37. Visit Kaufmanns Streamborn
38. Waders and Drowning: The Big Myth
39. Is the “Bad East Wind” Outlook a Myth?
40. Terrific Guide to Fishing Hooks
41. The Same Spot Trap
42. Fishing Clubs: Give One a Try
43. Fourteen Ways to Fish Better Fast!
44. Fishing Travel Facts
45. Binoculars Pay Big Dividends
46. The Mid-Current Is Just Right
47. Learn to Fly Cast An Easier Way
48. Fly Reels: Direct Drive or Anti-Reverse?
49. Fish & Fly: A Treasure Trove
50. Fish Superlines Where Pickerel and Pike Roam
51. Frayed Superlines Won’t Last
52. More on Those Braided Superlines
53. How Braided Lines Can Break Your Rod
54. Put a Fillet Knife to Work
55. Rule for Fighting Big Fish
56. Why Be Patient?
57. The Wrong Stuff
58. Twelve Best Places to Retire and Fly Fish
59. Fly Casting Reality Check
60. Casting Practice: The Absolute Necessary Evil
61. The Fly Tyer Magazine
62. World-Record Bass Mania
63. Fishing Those Golden Autumn Days
64. Long-Handled Nets for Shoreline Fishing
65. Batter Up! Ted Williams on Fly Fishing
66. Women’s Flyfishing: Good Idea, Great Execution
67. Florida’s Winter Fishing: Cold Front Woes
68. When Guides Give You a Bonus
69. Rods Belong in the Bag
70. Snoring Is Serious
71. What the Writers Say
72. Fly-Out Fishing Camps
73. How to Not Ruin Your Trip
74. The Lure of the Salt
75. Improving Your Light-Tackle Fishing Skills
76. When a Light Rod Is the Right Rod
77. Spinning Tackle vs. Fly Tackle: An Early View
78. Polaroid Glasses: The Absolute Essential
79. Saltwater Fishing: What You’re Missing
80. The Ding That Breaks a Rod
81. Bass Resources Galore
82. Good Fishing at Gander Mountain
83. Fly Fishing Without Casting
84. Great Maps Show the Way
85. Try Bank Fishing With Poles—Yes . . . Poles!
86. Tournament Anglers Are Having a Blast
87. Bank Fishing: Working the Real Hotspots
88. Try Bank Fishing the British Way
89. Stools for Bank Fishing
90. The Greatest Snakebite Kit
91. The Fish-Catching Method Banned in Tournaments
92. Help from the Pros
93. Which Size Sinker?
94. Lightning and Fishing
95. The Wind Behind the Rain
96. How to Treat a Fishing Guide
97. Plastic Tubs Can Hold Your Gear
98. It’s a Great Day to Go Fishing
99. Keeping a Logbook
100. The Joys of Night Fishing
101. How to Have a Night to Remember
102. Two Rods Are Better Than One
103. Right Way to Put Your Rod Together
104. Locking Down Your Reel
105. Stringer Danger!
106. Wobblers Need Swivels
107. Fill That Spool With Line
108. Camp Cooks Get Special Treatment
109. Taking a Kid Fishing—Tip One
110. Taking a Kid Fishing—Tip Two
111. Taking a Kid Fishing—Tip Three
112. Taking a Kid Fishing—Tip Four
113. Tackle Shop Advice on Hotspots: What’s It Worth?
114. Respect for Other Anglers
115. Carry a Hook Sharpener
116. Want a Really Big Bass? Try Landlocked Stripers
117. Easy Way to Get Started in Fly Fishing
118. One of the Greatest Fishing Books Ever Published
119. Rigging Up the Right Way
120. The Amazon Is Not a Jungle!
121. Two Hemingway Stories for Young and Old Readers
122. Don’t Miss Prime Time
123. Houseboat Fishing: What a Great Idea
124. Fishing’s Critical Water Temperature
125. They‘re On the Bite!
126. Fishing the Spawning Beds
127. When Sight-Feeders Turn Off
128. Give ’Em What They Want
129. Fly Fishing Made Easier
130. Bank Fishing Made Easier
131. Before You Release That Fish . . .
132. Forceps, Please
133. Handling the Midday Lull
134. Don’t Forget the Crawfish
135. The Never-Ending Joys of Fly Fishing
136. Autumn Action: Too Good to Miss
137. What’s In a Name?
138. Got Any Clouser Minnows?
139. Make Mine Chartreuse!
140. Why Rising Water Isn’t All Bad
141. The All-Important Temperature
142. Night Feeders, Prowling in Daylight
143. How Barometric Pressure Affects Fish
144. Side-Arm Casting Rewards
145. Casting: The Real Art of Fishing
146. Catching Those Night Crawlers
147. Wind Action Can Be Good for Fishing
148. Wind Direction: Breeding Bad Weather
149. Beating the Heat
150. Spinning Reels and Ultralight Baits
151. Going Ultralight
152. Understanding the Thermocline
153. Predators Hunt in the Shadows
154. Fishing the Spring Warm-Up
155. Reading the Pattern
156. Be Optimistic! It Will Pay Off!
CHAPTER 3 - Beyond the Basics: A Mixed Bag of Essential Skill Tips
157. The Backlash Retrieve: Deadliest in All Fishing
158. The Dock That Produces More Fish
159. Betting on the Outside Bend
160. The Windy Side Is Where You Want to Be
161. Turning Nibbles Into Bites
162. It’s Not Just the Lure
163. You Have to Be Sneaky to Catch Fish
164. Use the Deadly Slingshot Cast in Tight Places
165. Minnows Will Wake Up Sluggish Feeders
166. Making the Cast: Rule One
167. Why Suspended Fish Are Tough
168. Rx for Line Twists
169. Change Locations and Baits Often
170. Colors That Make Fish Bite Most
171. Why Live Bait Works So Well
172. In Deep Water, Fish Look Down
173. Checking Out Your Lure’s Action
174. When Snagged Lures Snap Loose
175. Putting Your Lures to Work
176. When the Water’s Falling
177. Inside the “LureNet”
178. Trying the Mepps Timber Doodle
179. Freeing a Bottom-Hung Jig or Blade Bait
180. Putting Depth Finders to Work the Right Way
181. Live Minnow Hook-Up
182. Less Line, Tighter Drag!
183. Fighting a Fish with “Sosin’s Law”
184. Riding High, Down Deep
185. Jigging with the Fuzz-E Grub
186. The Fly-Rod Grip That Sets More Hooks
187. Baitcasting: Hand Position for Better Casting
188. Casting Sink-Tip and Full-Sinking Lines
189. Fish Jigs for Spring Panfish
190. You Have to Find ’Em First
191. Where to Fish Early, Pre-Spawn Bass
192. Best Bet for Mixed Bag Action
193. The “Touch” That Catches Fish
194. Best Trolling Speed
195. Don’t Waste Time on Early-Season Top Water
196. Watch Those Weather Fronts
197. Hot Flies and UltraLight Spinning Lures
198. The Deadly “Yo-Yo” Retrieve (Don’t Miss This One!)
199. Float Fishing’s Top Tip
200. Use Gulp Baits for Spring Action
201. Fine-Tuning Your Jigging Techniques
202. It’s Woolly Buggers for Spring Trout
203. A Lesson from Bird-Feeders
204. “String” Your Fish to Stay Fresh
205. Nervous Water Means Action
206. Side-Arm Casts for Live-Bait Fishing
207. Live Bait in Current: Let It Ride
208. When the Wind’s in Your Favor
209. Gripping Fish During Filleting
210. Setting That Rod Aside
211. Plastic Storage Boxes in Your Boat
212. Treating Cuts and Scrapes
213. Micro Jigs for Fly-Rod Action
214. Ready for Action? Go to Drop-Shot Fishing
215. The Twenty Best Fishing Towns in America
CHAPTER 4 - The Portable Angler: Fishing with Kayaks, Float Tubes, and Pontoon Boats
216. Self-Propelled, Go-Anywhere Fishing Crafts
217. Float Tubes Become U-Boats
218. The Spider Boats Are Coming
219. Belly-Boat Fishing Clubs
220. Kayak Fishing: The New Angling Frontier
221. Choosing a Fishing Kayak—Step One
222. Try a Kayak Fishing Club
223. Kayak Fishing Books and DVDs
224. Kayak Sportfishing Has It All
225. A Pair of Kayak Fishing Aces
226. A Kick-Boat Hard to Beat
227. The Most Stable Kayaks
228. How Great Is Kayak Fishing?
229. Florida Keys Kayak Fishing
CHAPTER 5 - Knots You’ll Need: We Make Them Easy to Master
230. Easy Way to Learn Knot Tying
231. Fly Fishing Knots Made Easy
232. The Knot Book That Has Them All
233. Orvis Makes Knot-Tying So Easy
234. The Alaskan Guides’ Knot
235. Knots for the Braided Superlines
236. Tighten Down Those Fluorocarbon Leader Knots
237. Stu Apte’s Blood Knot Special Trick
238. Twelve Knot Tips for Better Fishing
239. Tying on a Hook—the Improved Clinch Knot
240. The Loop That Gives Your Lure Action
241. Looping a Fly Line to a Leader Loop
242. How to Join Leader Sections, Part One: The Blood Knot
243. How to Join Leader Sections, Part Two: The Surgeon’s Knot
244. The Loop You Need for Drop Shot Fishing
245. The Knot Atlantic Salmon Fishers Swear By
246. Add a Loop to Your Leader or Line
247. Connecting Fly Line to Leader Without Loops: Tube Nail Knot
248. The No Tube Fly Line Connection: The Needle Nail Knot
PART TWO - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 6 - Into the Strike Zone: Tips to Stop You From Fishing Dead Water!
249. It’s All About FINDING the Bass
250. An Essential Truth About Bass Fishing
251. The Pattern Tells You What to Do
252. My Most Important Bass Fishing Lesson
253. Top-Water Patience Can Pay
254. Where’d They Go?
255. Those Important Scatter Points
256. They’re Not Hitting Because They’re Not There!
257. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
258. How to Fish Points
259. Deep-Water Bass Bonanza
260. Wolf Pack Bass
261. A Bass Fishing Revolution Begins
262. When Bass Seem to Disappear
263. Finding Those Disappearing Bass
264. Buck Perry and His Magic Plug
265. Bass Travel Lanes: You’ve Got to Find Them!
266. Sanctuaries: Where Peak Action Awaits
267. Smart Bass Versus Naïve Bass
268. B.A.S.S. Pro Analyzes Moon Phases
269. A Creature of Habits
270. She—Not He—Is the Big One That Got Away
271. For Dedicated Bass Anglers (And “Bassmaster” Wannabes)
272. Suspended Bass—They’re Tough to Catch
273. Stay in the Strike Zone for Suspended Bass
274. If You’re a Bass Fan . . .
275. Gimmicks and Gadgets
276. Go Early for Spring Bass
277. Finding and Fishing Bass Highways
278. Let Don Wirth Help You Catch More Bass
279. A Pro’s Favorite Wintertime Lures
280. Rigging Up for Winter Bass
281. Florida Bass with Larry Larsen
282. Florida’s Beautiful, Natural Spring Creeks
283. Let It Blow, Let It Blow!
284. Cracking the Code of Huge Impoundments
285. Finding Those Early-Spring Bass
286. Why Bass Change Depths
287. Oxygen Monitoring to Find Preferred Bass Depths
288. Best Oxygen Levels for Bass
289. When River Bass Turn On
290. Smallmouth Floats on the Upper Delaware
291. Summer’s Smallmouth Dividends
292. Best in the West
293. Bass Fishing in the West
294. What to Expect on Post-Spawn Bass
295. Taking More Bass in Streams and Creeks
296. Smallmouth Tackle: Heavy Vs. Light
297. Jump the Gun for Fall Smallmouths
298. Fishing Flooded Timber: Rule One
299. Targeting Docks and Bridge Pilings
300. Fish Rip-Raps for Early Spring Bass
301. How to Fish Early-Spring Bass
302. How to Fish Jigs for Spring Bass on Points
303. Where’d They Go? (Part One)
304. Where’d They Go? (Part Two)
CHAPTER 7 - Super Strategies: Start Catching More Bass Right Now!
305. Field & Stream’s Largemouth “Ultimate Lure” Survey Winners
306. Field & Stream’s Smallmouth “Ultimate Lure” Survey Winners
307. Bass Fishing’s Super-Rig: It’s Famous Because It Works
308. Rick Clunn’s Most Deadly Lure Advice
309. Smart and Easy Plastic Worm Fishing
310. Plastic Worm Action: Are You Missing Out?
311. The Mother of All Plastic Worm Rigs
312. How to Set Up the Texas Rig
313. Tweaking the Texas Worm Rig
314. The Deadly Carolina Rig
315. Setting Up the Carolina Rig
316. Buy This Book and Catch More Bass!
317. Kevin VanDam’s Early Season Tactics
318. A Really Good Bass Bait
319. Tie On a Strike King Zulu
320. Locked-Down Sinkers on Texas Rigs
321. Try a Tricked-Up Dinger
322. When Schooling Fish Won’t Hit
323. Try Clear Plastic for Schooling Fish
324. The Floating Worm: Fun and Good
325. Skipping Floating Worms
326. High-Tech Gear Can Be Loads of Fun
327. When High-Tech Goes Wrong
328. Here He Comes! Now What?
329. When Spring Bass Become Active
330. Catching the Year’s Earliest Bass
331. Working Early-Spring’s Deadliest Lure
332. Floating Worms: Make Sure They Can
333. Hooking Up Your Floating Worms
334. The Deadly Jerkbait Pause
335. The Lure That Got Away
336. Lure Action, Not Color, Counts Most
337. Do Lure Colors Really Matter?
338. Bass Expert’s Favorite Lure Colors
339. Smallmouths on the Rocks
340. When Smallmouths Go Berserk!
341. When Smallmouths Tease You!
342. How to Fish Early Spring Bass
343. Reaction Strikes: Take ’Em When You Can
344. River Sloughs: Don’t Miss Them
345. Surface Plunkers: The Sweet Feel of “Real”
346. Darter Plugs: The “Extra” Surface Baits
347. When the Wind Blows
348. Lucas on Bass
349. Think Brown for More Bass
350. Looks Are Deceiving
351. Uncle Homer: My Bassing Hero
352. Never Underestimate a Bass’ Vision
353. Inside the Private World of Bass
354. Sight Fishing for Largemouths—Step One
355. Sight Fishing for Largemouths—Step Two
356. Sight Fishing for Largemouths—Step Three
357. Time to Walk the Dog
358. Forget Top Water When the Time’s Not Right
359. Proven Topwater Lures
360. What Hook Size?
361. How Bill Dance Beats Windy Days
362. Smallmouth Savvy: Go Deeper With Jigs When You Have To
363. Fishing the Legendary Devil’s Horse
364. The 1 Million Tactic
365. A Bassing Blog You Shouldn’t Miss
366. Red Hooks, Bleeding Baits—Are They For Real?
367. Add Red for More Strikes
368. Fake Frogs: How Fine Are They?
369. Waders Not Required
370. Casting to Bass Cover
371. When the Water’s Falling Too Fast
372. Oxygen Content is Crucial
373. Find the Oxygen, You’ll Find the Fish
374. Double Your Fun With Two Jigs
375. Add Some Venom to Your Lures
376. It’s Not a Strike, It’s a Slurp!
377. How Bass Slurp Prey
378. Setting the Hook on Slurping Bass
379. Quick Pull, Then No Fish
380. Pre-Spawn Bass: More Strikes in the Afternoon
381. Staging for the Spawn: Early Spring’s Best Bassing
382. Why Live Bait Catches Giant Bass
383. Your Best Chance for a Monster Bass
384. Picking the Right Hook for Plastic Worms
385. Rigging the Expensive Trout Lure
386. Those Super-Shallow Crankbaits
387. Knocking on Wood
388. Crankbait Snagging Remedy
389. Jim Porter’s Guide to Bass Fishing
390. Bass Lures Don’t Come Easy
391. How to Choose a Crankbait
392. Crankbait Action: The Wrong Stuff
393. Soft-Plastic: The Bass Won’t Let Go!
394. Sea Anchors on Bass Boats
395. A Largemouth Angler Fishing for Smallmouths
396. Pass the Watermelon
397. Bass Turned Off . . . Then Turned Right Back On
398. It’s Gobies for Lake Erie Smallmouths
399. The Single-Worm Trick for Bass
400. Destination: Lake Erie
401. Coping With Surface Lure Splash-Down
402. Getting The Touch with Plastic Worms
403. Plastic Worms in the Strike Zone
404. Study-Time with the Bass Professor
405. Doug Hannon on Making Bass Strike
406. Moon Up Early—Great Fishing
407. Doug Hannon’s Moon Phase Choices
408. Good Bass Fishing Close to Home
409. Fishing Tidewater Bass
410. Another Tidewater Tip
411. The Carolina Rig as a Search Bait
412. Positively Swimbaits
413. A Swim Bait Nation
414. California, Here I Come
415. A New Worm to Shake Up Your Bassing
416. A Favorite Worm Rig
417. If You’re Not Drop-Shot Fishing . . .
418. Bill Dance: Pull That Worm, Don’t Reel It
419. The Spotted Bass Challenge
420. The Toughest Bass of Them All?
421. Alabama’s Spotted Bass Headquarters
CHAPTER 8 - The Tournament Trail: What to Expect, What to Know
422. How to Lose a Bass Tournament
423. Find the Other Boats, Find the Fish
424. Hitting the Pro Circuit, Part One: Dreams and Realities
425. Hitting the Pro Circuit, Part Two: Bring Money!
426. Hitting the Pro Circuit, Part Three: Assessing Your Chances
PART THREE - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 9 - Fly-Fishing Tactics: How Top Guides and Experts Fish
427. The Biggest Key to Fly-Fishing Success
428. Field & Stream’s Trout “Ultimate Lure” Survey Winners
429. Learning from the Great Blue Heron
430. Fastest Fly-Fishing Course Ever
431. Meeting the Late Summer Challenge
432. Need More Convincing? It’s Beetles for Trout
433. How Expert Jeff Morgan Searches New Water for Trout
434. Where Trout Are Always Hungry
435. Make Your Dropper Fly Expendable
436. Dropper Fly Length for Dry Flies
437. Long Live the Long Rod
438. Tying on the Dropper Leader
439. The Dry Fly As a Striker Indicator
440. Ted Trueblood’s Dyed-Leader Experiment
441. The Spell of the Mayfly
442. Blue Ribbon Flies
443. Where Are the Hatches?
444. Upstream with Dries, Downstream Nymphs and Streamers
445. Big Sky Fishing Web site
446. Fish the Skwala Hatch for Openers
447. Visiting The Fly Shop
448. Trout Pellet Fly—The Real Thing
449. Trout Pellet Fly—The Reasonable Facsimile
450. How to Spot Nymph Takes
451. Small Stream, Small Backpack, Big Day
452. Fish Streamers in Small Streams
453. Traver Award Story Collection
454. Strike Indicator Flotation Help
455. Fishing Small Streams Behind Other Anglers
456. Small Streams and Sink-Tip Lines
457. What’s That on Your Dropper?
458. Give Small-Stream Trout Your Best Shot
459. Finding and Fishing the Seams
460. Don’t Miss the Trout Bum
461. On Sinking Lines: Drop Down One Size
462. Are the New Fluorocarbon Leaders Worth It?
463. Spring Creeks: Superb Trout Destinations
464. Why Spring Creeks Are Tough
465. When You Can’t Match the Hatch
466. When Spring Creek Trout Turn On
467. The Tuck Cast Takes More Trout
468. When Rain Is Your Friend
469. Fishing the Back Door to Yellowstone
470. Where the Road Leaves the River
471. Sulphurs: The Year’s Best Fly Hatch
472. Making the Most of the Sulphur Hatches
473. When the Sulphurs Have Competition
474. The High-Country’s Forgotten Early Season Fishing
475. My Big Sulphur Hatch Mistake
476. Fly Line Colors: They Do Matter
477. The Secret of Timing Trout Feeding Activity
478. Falling Barometer: Look Out Below
479. Fly Rod Casting Techniques You May Never Master, But Should
480. Why Are All Those Trucks Parked Over There?
481. Upstream Wading Made Easier
482. Tests on Fluorocarbon Tippets
483. More About Fluorocarbon Tippets
484. Buying Flies Before You Go
485. You Can Bet on Beetles
486. Barbless Hooks Make More Sense
487. Barbless Hooks: How to Know They’re Legal
488. Making Your Hooks Barbless
489. Where to Obtain Barbless Hooks
490. Wading Staffs Make Sense
491. A Common Mayfly Frustration
492. Try Tailwater Trout at “High Tide”
493. You Can Count on the Griffith’s Gnat
494. The Key to Early Season Success
495. Get Out of That Rut
496. Fishing Cold, Early Season Water
497. Try Egg Patterns for Fall Trout
498. The Czech Express Has Arrived
499. When Brook Trout Ponds Come to Life
500. The Fly Hatch That Loves Bad Weather
501. Those Splashy, Leaping Rises
502. Casting to Rising Trout
503. Trout on the Move
504. Random Casting: It Won’t Work on Spring Creeks
505. Try Joe Brooks’ Broadside Float
506. Leave Those Stressed Fish Alone
507. Casting with Either Hand
508. Fish Nymphs and Emergers With Upstream Casts
509. Stream Wading Rule One
510. Netting Your Trout
511. A Fly Fisher’s Creed
512. Fly Fishing Beyond the Basics
513. Fly Fishing Rule One
514. Get That Nymph Down
515. No Hatch to Match? It’s Time for Nymphs
516. When Summer Trout Move Out
517. Where Trout Hold and Where They Rise
518. Fish Big Boulders on Both Sides
519. John Merwin On Blue-Winged Olives
520. John Merwin’s Blue-Winged Olive Fly Choices
521. Why You Should Fish for Cutthroats
522. Give Trout Unlimited Your Support
523. Seeing Trout: Rule One
524. Weeds: The Trout Stream Signpost
525. Fishing Trout Stream Weeds
526. You Have to Be Sneaky to Catch Trout
527. When Your Fly Is Snagged
528. The Roll Cast: A Fly-Fishing Must
529. The Upper Delaware: The Big East Trout Mecca
530. How to Start Fishing the Upper Delaware
531. The Upper Delaware’s Dark Side
532. When the Upper Delaware is Right
533. Which Upper Delaware Branch to Fish?
534. Upper Delaware Guided Days
535. Blind Casting the Dry Fly
536. Surface Feeders: Three Casts and Out
537. The Dry Fly Fished Downstream on Big Rivers
538. Streamers Need Speed
539. Streamers: The “Go-To” Flies
540. Dry-Fly Purist Bunk
541. Ripping Streamers
542. Nymph Fishing: Cast Up, Fish Down
543. And Still Champion: The Muddler Minnow
544. Delaware Rainbows Are Special
545. Tactics of an Upper Delaware Legend
546. Don’t Strike That Trout Too Soon
547. The Ed Van Put Fly Selections
548. A Deadly Nymphing Technique
549. A Fly That Will Live Forever
550. Heads-Up Nymph Fishing
551. Hitting the Hatch at Prime Time
552. Where Trout Are Feeding
553. Current Seams: Where the Trout Are
554. Add Weight Before Changing Flies
555. Saying No to Strike Indicators
556. Other Strike Indicator Negatives
557. Fly Stories: An Orvis Treasury
558. Gary LaFontaine: His Endless Legacy
559. Fishing the High-Country Lakes
560. When An Entire Pod of Trout Are Rising Right in Front of You
561. Best Way to Fish Mountain Lakes from Shore
562. The Pack Boat for Mountain Lake Fishing
563. Mountain Lakes: The Gifts From Above
564. Pairing the Hatch
565. Best Days to Fish a Mayfly Hatch
566. Early Season Fly Hatches
567. A Very Special Tip for Fly-Fishing Beginners
568. Wade in Carefully, Stop Spooking Trout
569. How an Expert Plays Big Trout
570. Big Trout in Weedy Water
571. Stay Out of the Trout’s Rear-Vision Mirror
572. Nymph Fishing Made Easy
573. How to See More Trout
574. Play That Fish from the Reel?
575. The Easy Way—and the Best Way
576. The Right Times to Fish the Wrong Flies
577. A Trick for Fishing a Tough Hatch
578. You’re Down Or You’re Out!
579. Rocks and Trout: Pinpointing the Lies
580. Trout Under the Bridge
581. The Devilish Smutting Rises
582. What Color Leader?
583. The Perfect Small-Stream Trout Rod
584. Upstream Or Downstream?
585. The Most Important 10 Inches in Trout Fishing
586. Midsummer, Low-Water Conditions: Go With a Dry Fly
587. Twitch Your Midsummer Dry Fly
588. Leonard Wright’s Summer Dry Fly Technique
589. Your Summer Trout Fishing Will Improve
590. Finding Maryland’s Best Trout Streams
591. A Trout Stream Where Legends Were Created
592. The Drift of the Dry Fly
593. Are Your Hands Poisoned?
594. Fishing the Spinner Rises
595. Stay On Watch for Sipping Rises
596. Small Rise, Big Trout
597. Schwiebert’s Fly Line Color Choices
598. Eliminating Drag: The Key to Successful Dry Fly Fishing
599. Eliminating Drag: The George Harvey Solution
600. Buying George Harvey S-Curve Leaders
601. Gary Borger’s S-Curve Drag-Free Ideas
602. Bottoms-Up Tactic for Finicky Feeders
603. Choke-Up for Short, Tough Casts
604. Make Dropper Rigs Your Wintertime Project
605. Joe Humphrey’s Best Nymph Tactic
606. Joe Humphrey’s Trout Tactics
607. Taking the Temperature for Trout
608. The Right Temperatures for Trout
609. Setting the Hook on Nymph Strikes
610. Trout on the Edge of Town
611. Special Tactics for Giant Trout
612. My Crazy Giant-Trout Morning
613. Use a Glove to Fish the Tangles
614. Three High-Desert Trout Destinations
615. Snake River Triple Play
616. B.C. Wilderness Adventures Fishing
617. Fishing the Housatonic
618. Fit for a King
619. Winter’s Gift: The Secret Spring
620. A Mistake-Proof Fly
621. Have You Got The Touch?
622. The Upper Missouri: Fly Fishing’s True Paradise
623. Fishing the Upper Missouri from Wolf Creek
624. Headhunters on the Missouri
625. The Upper Missouri’s Trout Shop
626. Flyway Ranch Missouri Access
627. Schwiebert on Jackson Hole Cutthroats
628. Schwiebert on Jackson Hole Cutthroats, Part Two
629. The Secret Weapon for Green Drake Hatches
630. Alaska Tactics Come to New York
631. That West Yellowstone Pose
632. The Trout Stream You Cherish Most
633. Rookie Error: He Missed It!
634. The Approaching Cold Front: It’s Hot Stuff
635. The Cold Front Has Passed. What Next?
636. The Catch-and-Release Code
CHAPTER 10 - Spinning and Bait Tips: You’ll Catch More Trout
637. Guaranteed: More Trout Spinning Small Streams
638. The Strong Pull of Bait Fishing
639. Best Bait for Early-Season Spinning
640. Small Spinners for Small-Stream Trout
641. The Downstream Swing: Your Spinner’s Strike Zone
642. Small-Stream Spinning: The Real Art
643. What Color Spinner Blades?
644. Adding Weight to Your Spinner
645. Fish the Woolly Bugger with Spinning Tackle
646. Fishing the Big, Slow Pools
647. Keep it Simple and Fun
648. Try a Different Spinner Lure
649. Spinning with a B-17
650. Small Spinners Reveal Trout Locations
651. The Deadliest Trout Spinner?
652. Spinning With Small Jigs Takes More Trout
653. Matukas and Spinners: A Deadly Combo
654. Sweeten Your Trout Spinnerbait
655. Spinning Tricks for Trout
CHAPTER 11 - Steelhead, The Ultimate Trout Challenge: Beating the Odds
656. Experts Only Need Apply
657. No Beginner’s Luck Here
658. Fishing Out the Swing
659. Find and Fish the Holding Water
660. When You Can’t Move That Fish
661. Where the Fish Are Lying
662. Pool Etiquette: It Makes Sense
663. Great Lakes Steelhead Fighting Qualities
664. Low and Slow for Winter Steelhead
CHAPTER 12 - Salmon and Shad, Home from the Seas: Be Ready for Them
665. The Truth About Atlantic Salmon Fishing
666. Those Mysterious Landlocks
667. Landlocked Salmon: The Source
668. Best Landlock Salmon Flies?
669. A Good Day on Black Salmon
670. The Truth About Grilse
671. How to Get More Salmon Strikes
672. The Leonard Wright Salmon Cast
673. The Hardest Fish to Predict
674. Facing Atlantic Salmon Disappointment
675. Why Salmon Hit Flies
676. A Salmon Remembers
677. Check Out Newfoundland and Labrador
678. Hook a Salmon, Break a Rod
679. When the Bite Is On
680. When Salmon Strike
681. Two Salmon Strikes
682. Ernie Schwiebert’s Salmon-Fishing Advice
683. Landlock Fever: A Springtime Malady
684. The Perfect Landlocked Salmon Fly
685. Focusing on Landlocks
686. Buck Or Roe? You’ll Feel the Difference
687. She’s Quite a Lady!
688. The Landlock Salmon Fly Retrieve
689. Same Spot, Same Lures, Different Results
690. A “Must-Read” Shad Book
691. Fluttering, Flashing Shad Lures
692. A Clever Way to Troll for Shad
PART FOUR - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 13 - Ultimate Walleye Tactics: Tips to Master Heartland’s Finest Fishing
693. White-Water Walleye Holes
694. A Deadly Summer Walleye Lure
695. Field & Stream’s Walleye “Ultimate Lure” Survey Winners
696. The Rig That Worked Magic—And Still Does
697. Northland Tackle Free Booklet
698. Walleyes for the Frying Pan: Beware the Cholesterol Police
699. Putting Flasher Spoons to Work
700. A Trick for Cold-Water Fishing
701. Live-Bait Rig for Taking More Walleyes
702. Try This Rig and Presentation
703. Focusing on River Walleyes
704. Overlooked Walleye River Hotspots
705. Reading Walleye River Currents
PART FIVE - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 14 - Mixed Bag Panfishing: Tips for More Action Every Time You Fish!
706. Springtime Fun Guaranteed
707. Watch Those Spinner Blades
708. When the Big Bluegills Spawn
709. Look to Deep Water for Big Bluegills
710. Finding the Beds of Bull Bluegills
711. Ever Hold a True Bull Bluegill?
712. The Biggest Bluegill Ever!
713. A Deadly Sliver of Plastic Worm
714. A Super-Star Panfishing Tactic
715. Field & Stream’s Panfish “Ultimate Lure” Survey Winners
716. Which Crappie Is That?
717. Fly-Fishing Bonus: Bluegills on the Bed
718. Don’t Lose That Fish
719. Catching Slab-Sided Bluegills in Midsummer
720. Fishing the Deadly Lau Loop
721. Go Deep With Sponge-Rubber Spiders
722. Catching Big, Summer Yellow Perch
723. Try Crankbaits for Summer Crappies
724. Turn a Bad Day Into a Great One
725. Tribute to a Very Special Panfish
726. Redbreast vs. Brim
727. Where to Find Redbreast
728. Count on the Catalpa Worm
729. Cricket Know-How
730. Hooks for Bream: When You Want Them to Straighten Out
731. Use Slip Bobbers for Crappies
732. Bait-Keeper Hooks Do a Better Job
733. Fry ’Em Up—Southern Style
CHAPTER 15 - How Catfish Experts Fish: Follow the Masters to More Success
734. Giant Catfish: You Need Help
735. Finding and Catching More and Bigger Catfish
736. Chum Them Up With Dog Food
737. Favorite Baits for Blue Cats
738. A Good Basic Catfish Rig
739. Fish the Mussel Beds
740. Use Dog Food in Small Ponds
741. Switch to Catfish for More Fun
742. Best Water for Small-Stream Catfish
743. Baiting Up for Small-Stream Catfish
744. The Deadliest Bait for TrotLine Catfish
745. Technique of a World-Record Catfisher
746. Baits of a World-Record Catfisher
747. Best Time to Fish for Giant Catfish
CHAPTER 16 - Carp Secrets: The Mysterious Ways of a Great Gamefish
748. Don’t Forget Carp Fishing
749. Fishing for Carp: Stop Missing Out!
750. Carp on a Fly: A Supreme Challenge
751. To Catch Carp, Pass the Dough
752. Essentials for Catching More Carp
753. Bubbles That Betray Carp
754. Scent Sweeteners for Carp Baits
755. Divide and Conquer Carp Tactics
756. You Have to be Ready for Carp
757. Fly-Fishing the Great Carp Unknown
758. On the Hunt for Carp
759. The Carp as a Fighter
PART SIX - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 17 - Pike Action Guaranteed: These Tips Won’t Let You Down
760. On the Hunt for Pike
761. When Pike Attack
762. A Fish of Wildness
763. Playing Those Pike
764. Pike and Pickerel for the Frying Pan
765. Hang On to Your Hat
766. Northern Pike: Here, There, Everywhere!
767. Fly Rod Pike? Go Right Ahead
768. They Love Their Pike in Great Britain
769. The Perfect Pike Spoon or Spinner
770. Give the Devil a Chance
771. Sound Off for Northerns
772. Team a Rapala with a Dardevle
CHAPTER 18 - Cutting the Odds on Muskies: Catching the Wolves of Fresh Water
773. The Fish of 10,000 Casts
774. The Oldest Muskie Story Out There
775. Why Those Big Mossback Muskies Are Different
776. Muskies Prowling for Prey
PART SEVEN - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 19 - Special Section: Stu Apte’s Best Fishing Tips
777. Describe your basic fish-fighting technique.
778. Is “being smooth” the key?
779. What are some dos and don’ts for playing big fish with a fly rod?
780. Do you have any special tips on playing bonefish?
781. What about a leaping fish?
782. When playing fish, do you hold the rod high or low?
783. What happens when the fish is closer?
784. So you’ve turned the fish. What next?
785. Describe the critical final stages of the fight.
786. What are the best moon phases for flats fishing?
787. The best flats-fishing weather is . . . ?
788. For tarpon in winter, how do you cope with cold snaps?
789. You’ve had a lot of success with early season tarpon. Is that your formula?
790. Why is your favorite flat down by Key West so good?
791. What makes saltwater casting so special?
792. In tarpon fishing, the cast is critical, is it not?
793. Is there anything special about your casting that could help a serious angler practice and learn to cast better?
794. What are your preferences in sunglasses for fishing the flats? In fresh water?
795. In bonefishing, opportunities do exist for anglers to wade the flats alone. What flies do you recommend they carry? What would be your first fly tied on?
796. When a bonefish seems to be near your fly, do you see anything special that makes the fish strike?
797. What’s your “go-to” snook fly?
798. What’s your choice fly to get a permit to strike?
799. Describe the “Stu Apte Method” of presenting a fly or lure to a tarpon.
800. Do you keep stripping, or do you stop sometimes?
801. What about a fly in front of the bonefish? What are the key things to remember for success?
802. What else do you do to get a bonefish strike?
803. You’ve now caught 200 or more sailfish on a fly. Any special tips on presenting the fly or playing them?
804. Is the presentation like that on any other fish?
805. Then, when he hits it, when do you make your strike?
806. Are streamers better than popping bugs?
807. What kind of popping bugs are those? They must be very special.
808. Do you sell them on the marketplace?
809. In regard to the sailfish tips we discussed, do the lure presentations and other info apply to using spinning gear?
810. What are some of the best destinations for sailfish on a fly?
811. Is it true tarpon live to be thirty or forty years old? If that’s so, there are tarpon still swimming around now that you hooked back at Big Pine in your early guiding days. It’s hard to imagine.
812. If I have the means (read, money) to fish anywhere I want, but had a problem with time, what would be the best time to go for big tarpon with a good guide?
813. You wouldn’t go during the worm hatch in May?
814. When would be the best time to go fish the backcountry and get a mixed bag—snook, redfish, and small tarpon? And get a lot of action?
815. So here at Thanksgiving, the big tarpon are in the backcountry?
816. Can you tell us something about tarpon migration habits?
817. Is it a temperature thing?
818. Do the tarpon go from the Gulf side to the ocean side, back and forth?
819. What if I can only go to the Keys in July and August? What are my chances for good fishing?
820. Are some sharks worse than others about getting after your fish?
821. What do you do when a shark is after your bonefish?
822. What was Joe Brooks like? In my magazine editing years, I never had the chance to meet him before he passed on. I’ve read everything he wrote and I’ve seen him in the video you guys did way back.
823. I wanted to talk about tipping. What do you tip flats guides these days?
824. Can you describe a particularly good guide?
825. When you go out at daybreak, do you come in earlier in the afternoon? Well before 5 o’clock?
826. Even in the long, long days of daylight in midsummer, you stay out all day?
827. Do the guides bring lunch?
828. Are there any important differences between fishing the Keys and the Bahamas that you can point out?
829. Where were you?
830. Where are the biggest bonefish in the Bahamas?
831. What’s your favorite way to go after redfish?
832. What happened with your partner to make you feel bad?
833. You’ve done a lot of redfishing through Louisiana and the Gulf States, haven’t you?
834. Are fly lines so good today that you don’t have to dress them anymore?
835. How do you make sure your backing is up to the job?
836. What determines your fly rod and line choices?
837. You’ve done quite a bit of light-tackle striper fishing in the Northeast. What were some of your impressions of the fish and the fishing?
838. Generally speaking, if we head for a tarpon pass where you expect prime action, and we stake out and not much happens, how long do you give it before we go to your first backup spot?
839. Setting the drag is something many anglers wonder about getting right. What’s your advice on setting drag for different fish?
840. In trout fishing, when you’re out in the high country on rivers like the Missouri or Yellowstone, what’s your favorite fly and rig when there are no rises to help you decide? And . . . do you ever use any of the nymph dropper lines, tied to a big dry fly or strike indicator?
841. What’s your favorite forms of freshwater fishing?
842. Any special tips?
843. There are some big bonefish down there in the Keys. Just how big do you think they might go?
844. With a good guide, can a complete novice catch bonefish on spinning gear and baits, like shrimp?
845. Is it possible to catch bonefish without a guide in the Keys and the Bahamas?
846. In that regard, can you give me a for-instance place in the Keys where I could go bonefishing on my own?
847. If you went out with unlimited funds to find new, undiscovered waters for giant tarpon, where are the areas you would likely want to search?
848. As a kid, you went fishing with sewing thread and a pin. After many casts, many fish, and almost eighty years, does the idea of going fishing still excite you?
CHAPTER 20 - Catching the Saltwater Superstars: Techniques for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, Redfish, and Flounder
849. The Saltwater Challenge
850. Head Boats Can Be Great Fun
851. Seasickness Can Hit Anybody
852. Saltwater Savage: The Bluefish
853. The Bluefish Frenzy: You’ve Got to Be There
854. Chumming: The Saltwater Action Creator
855. Keep It Quiet!
856. You Know the Fishing’s Really Lousy When . . .
857. If It Ain’t Chartreuse . . .
858. Great Easy-Chair Fishing
859. More Great Easy-Chair Fishing
860. Focus on Saltwater Fly Fishing
861. Storing Leaders and Pre-Tied Fly Rigs
862. Bluefish Seeing Red
863. When the Blues Are Running
864. An Extra Bluefish Danger
865. Great Autumn Surf Fishing
866. When the Mackerel Run
867. Surf Fishing’s Scouting Report
868. Fish the Ebb-Tide at Night
869. Two Critical Rules for Stripers in the Surf
870. The Joys of Full-Moon Fishing
871. Heed the Call of the Surf
872. Lefty Kreh’s “Miracle” Saltwater Fly
873. The Standard Fly Casting Method Doesn’t Work
874. The Lefty Kreh Fly Casting Technique
875. Lefty Kreh’s Fly Casting Revolution
876. The Importance of Casting Lefty’s Way
877. Mystery of the Galloping Bass
878. A Pocket Full of Good Fishing Luck
879. Bluefish: Power X Two
880. Fantastic on the Table
881. Why Focus on Snook?
882. Fighting Qualities of Snook
883. Those Special Boat Shoes
884. Beware Those Teeth!
885. Hit Those Points—Hard
886. Surf’s Up, Fly Fishing’s Down
887. Favorite Place to Fish
888. Fishing the Right Place at the Wrong Time
889. Striper Book Destined to Become a Classic
890. Summer Stripers Are Night Feeders
891. Go Slow for Stripers at Night
892. Bluefish and Striper Migration Differences
893. The Fall Striper Migration Run
894. Misjudging Late-Fall Fishing
895. The Good Old Chum Line
896. You’ll Need a Gaff on the Jetties
897. Sand Fleas: The Kind You Like
898. Great Surf Fishing Starts Right Here
899. Rigging Up to Bottom Fish Live Bait
900. Spring Means Mackerel
901. Stripers in the Surf: Six Top Lure Choices
902. Give Sea Trout Your Best Shot
903. The Tides Are the Key
904. Gulls and Terns Taking It Easy
CHAPTER 21 - Fishing the Big Deep: Experiences with Monster Fish
905. Fishing with Zane Grey
906. Beyond Crunch and Des
907. Hemingway’s Best Marlin
908. A Big Marlin Remembered
909. Hemingway Movie Marlin
910. IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum
911. Don’t Miss S. Kip Farrington, Jr.
912. Hemingway on Using the Boat
913. For Those Dull Days Offshore
914. Don’t Miss the IGFA’s Web Site
915. Your Friendly Flying Fish
CHAPTER 22 - Flat-Out Great: Tips for Taking Tarpon and Bonefish on the Flats
916. Flats Fishing: Seeing Is Believing
917. A Fly So Secret . . .
918. When Tarpon Strike
919. The Bahamas Everything Fishing Book
920. Florida Keys Fishing Guide
921. Nothing Wrong with Teamwork
922. Good Casts Are the Key to Success
923. Sun Protection: It’s Critical on the Flats
924. You Can Count on Shrimp for Bonefish
925. Fish the Muds for Bonefish Action
926. Destination: Small Tarpon, Big Action
927. Spinning for Bonefish
928. Sorting Out the Bonefish Pods
929. Bow to the King!
930. You Play Fish, but You Jump Tarpon
931. The Biggest Bonefish Are Loners
932. Bonefish Over 10 Pounds Are Loners
933. Targeting That Bonefish Pod
934. Fish On! Rod Up!
935. Another Florida Flats-Fishing Guide
936. Where to Catch the Biggest Bonefish
937. Chico’s Bonefishing Book
938. Florida Keys Kayak Fishing
PART EIGHT - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 23 - Wilderness Fishing That Calls to the Bold: Tips for Canoe-, Backpack-, and Float-Trip Success
939. Wilderness Canoe Fishing’s Top Information Source
940. Backcountry Trout in the High Rockies
941. Canoe Trip Fishing: Base Camps Are Better
942. How to Shorten Canoe-Trip Portages
943. Boundary Waters/Quetico: Wilderness Canoe Fishing at Its Finest
944. Mapping Out Your Wilderness River Trip
945. Three Best Maps for the B.W.C.A./Quetico
946. Those Very Special Mountain Brookies
947. Beaver Pond Brook Trout
948. Finding Backcountry Hot spots
949. Your Secret Backcountry Treasure
950. Low Water Can Mean Canoe-Trip Nightmares
951. Canoe Trip’s “Necessary” Extra
952. Trolling for Your Supper
953. Those Great Duluth Packs: Still With Us
954. Trout Along the Appalachian Backbone
955. Brook Trout Salvation
956. Brook Trout Salvation: Part Two
957. The Smallmouth Transition
958. Don’t Let the Bugs Win the Fight
959. Fly Rod Posturing
960. Sweet Dreams Guaranteed!
961. Curly-Tailed Grubs: The Backcountry Go-To Lure
962. Don’t Forget Alaska’s Grayling
963. Where the Salmon and Halibut Play Together
964. An Instant Fishing Guide
965. The Coho: Alaska’s Super Salmon
966. Those Big Alaska Rainbows
967. Chum Salmon Get No Respect
968. Where Alaska Gets Crowded
969. Semi-Wild Smallmouth Fishing
970. Semi-Wild Smallmouth Fishing, Part Two
971. Wilderness Police and Fire-Starter Paper
972. The Perfect Base Camp
973. The Burlap Bag Fish Cooler
974. On-Target Wilderness Casting
975. When The Plane Does Not Come
976. Last Cast . . .
PART NINE - ON THE WATER
CHAPTER 24 - Surefire Hard-Water Tactics: Fishing the Ice for Fun and Food
977. The Truth About Ice Fishing
978. Where the Fish Are
979. Ice Fishing’s Biggest Mistake
980. When Panfish Move Deeper
981. Keeping Those Precious Smelt Alive
982. Modern Ice-Fishing Gear: The Key to Having Fun
983. Check Those Traps Frequently
984. The Key to Taking Landlocks
985. Catching Lake Trout Through the Ice
986. Setting Drag on Ice-Fishing Reels
987. Best Ice-Fishing Rigs
988. Using Smelt as Bait
989. Better Lure Action Under the Ice
990. Early-Ice Walleye Spots to Set Up
991. Working the Jig
992. Making Your Jig Even More Deadly
993. Better Way to Fish Jigging Spoons
994. Don’t Let Those Fish Freeze
995. Tackle for Hard-Water Bluegills
996. Lures and Rig for Hard-Water Bluegills
997. Moving On to Better Things
998. Ice Fishing with Gander Mountain
999. Find the Fish with Sonar
1000. The Yellow Perch Challenge
1001. Yellow Perch Lures of an Expert
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
ALSO AVAILABLE
