John Waldman

As an American fisherman and writer, last year I asked users of this website for help finding truly weird ways of catching fish for a book I was working on. This is to thank those who replied and to let anyone interested know that 100 Weird Ways to Catch Fish has been published in paperback by Stackpole Books. As a long-time angler, I became interested in the many interesting, innovative, and oftentimes downright weird ways of outwitting fish. Some of these are ancient and primitive, such as poisoning, foot fishing, shark noosing, and the suprisingly gentle art of "tickling" trout. Some are old but sophisticated, like fishing with the aid of cormorants and otters. Others are modern but primitive, nonetheless, such as "noodling"---the grabbing by hand-in-mouth of large catfish after feeling for them in muddy waters, or calling them towards baited hooks with noises made by "klonking." Yet others are modern and highly technical, such as gas ballooning for tuna off seaside cliffs and poaching fish with homemade electrical shockers. The 100 essays in the book mix fact, lore, and anecdotes describing the great lengths to which fishermen are willing to go to extract these relatively dimwitted yet challenging creatures from lakes, rivers, and the sea. On the book’s cover, a retired school bus driver in Washington rigged a giant slingshot to the side of an ancient Volkswagen Beetle. By rearing back about twenty feet on the rubber sling, he could fire his railroad spike sinker and bait well out into the Columbia River to catch sturgeon. For those who are interested, the book is available via internet booksellers, such as Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. Thanks again, and tight (taut?) lines. P.S. Because there is no General Fishing forum, I also posted this on the Sea Angling page.

As an American fisherman and writer, last year I asked users of this website for help finding truly weird ways of catching fish for a book I was working on. This is to thank those who replied and to let anyone interested know that 100 Weird Ways to Catch Fish has been published in paperback by Stackpole Books. As a long-time angler, I became interested in the many interesting, innovative, and oftentimes downright weird ways of outwitting fish. Some of these are ancient and primitive, such as poisoning, foot fishing, shark noosing, and the suprisingly gentle art of "tickling" trout. Some are old but sophisticated, like fishing with the aid of cormorants and otters. Others are modern but primitive, nonetheless, such as "noodling"---the grabbing by hand-in-mouth of large catfish after feeling for them in muddy waters, or calling them towards baited hooks with noises made by "klonking." Yet others are modern and highly technical, such as gas ballooning for tuna off seaside cliffs and poaching fish with homemade electrical shockers. The 100 essays in the book mix fact, lore, and anecdotes describing the great lengths to which fishermen are willing to go to extract these relatively dimwitted yet challenging creatures from lakes, rivers, and the sea. On the book’s cover, a retired school bus driver in Washington rigged a giant slingshot to the side of an ancient Volkswagen Beetle. By rearing back about twenty feet on the rubber sling, he could fire his railroad spike sinker and bait well out into the Columbia River to catch sturgeon. For those who are interested, the book is available via internet booksellers, such as Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. Thanks again, and tight (taut?) lines. P.S. Because there is no general fishing forum I also posted this on the coarse fishing page.

To everyone who replied to my query--thanks! Some of it will be usable for my book and all of it was entertaining. This thread may be played out, but if anything else occurs to anyone over the next few months, please email me directly at john@hudsonriver.org. As they say in the states: "Tight Lines" (but they really mean "Taut Lines." Either way, good fishing. John

To everyone who replied so far--thanks! Kite fishing is already included but glad you mentioned it. Did not know about that mudskipper technique. But there is something about mudskippers that makes people want to gather them, including shooting them. They're collected using rubber bands to stun them and also fine-dust shotgun loads. Rope lure for billfish is a new one. Sounds like American "hookless fly" technique for our garfish. Gar get their considerable teeth snagged in nylon threads. Have to comb the nylon to re-use it. Vingling may seem like hard work to you vinglers, but dragging a knife through the sand and popping up baitfish is pretty exotic to those of us who don't vingle. I've heard you must watch out for the weevers. Depth charges adds to my blast fishing chapter. Not surprisingly, hand grendades were Saddam Hussein's favorite fishing gear. Great eel story. Instead of boppin we call it bobbing. Alternative is to put the worms in a little sack made from a nylon stocking--catches their teeth well. I have one more particular UK technique to ask about--foot fishing for plaice and flounder. I once read an excellent magazine article about it but can't locate it. Anyone know of stories on this? Any personal anecdotes? Keep plumbing your memories and thanks again, John Waldman

Greetings, I am an American fish biologist and writer, and an honorary member of your BASS Society, who is seeking help from your membership. I am 2/3 finished with a new book on the world's strangest and most clever fishing techniques from earliest history through the present, recreational, commercial, or otherwise. The only other criterion is that the techniques be repeatable--I am not looking for one-time gimmicks. Right now I have about 80 topics, a sampling of which includes: electroshocking and blast fishing; fishwheels; Sulawesi spider web fishing; salmon-leap traps; natural poisons; Japanese ayu fishing; cormorant, otter, and remora fishing; jugging for catfish; bowfishing and shooting spawning pike with rifles; catching gar on hookless flies; hand fishing and tickling trout; etc. I know you don't have my whole list but my general question is: is anyone aware of any really exotic approaches I might have missed? Specifically, I am looking for details and also good anecdotes concerning some UK techniques, including: vingling for sand eels; slating; poling for mullet; and putchers. Finally, I also would love to hear about approaches to fishing from tall cliffs. I also can be reached directly at john@hudsonriver.org. Any help is greatly appreciated. John Waldman Hudson River Foundation