Looking For A Book For Xmas.......

[Guest Brumagem Phil]

Well I'm a bugger to buy for at xmas (or so i'm told anyway) and have been asked for ideas (as if i'd know what to buy me for xmas?!?!?)..........I was thinking maybe a fishing book, but not any old book just for the sake of it.

 

Has anyone got any suggestions of a MUST HAVE fishing book thats worth me having and reading?

[Dick Dastardly]

Sorry Phil I cant remember what sort of fishing your into or how long youve been at it.These would help to make a good recomendation.

Edited December 1, 2005 by BUDGIE

[Guest Brumagem Phil]

Ah yes it might help! LOL

 

Coarse fishing only with carp, barbel and pike being my favourite fish to catch.....only been fishing 18-20 months so rakes to learn. Only got one book and that was a kind of beginners guide to everything.

 

That help you at all?

[argyll]

Ah yes it might help! LOL

 

Coarse fishing only with carp, barbel and pike being my favourite fish to catch.....only been fishing 18-20 months so rakes to learn. Only got one book and that was a kind of beginners guide to everything.

 

That help you at all?

 

Mick Brown's 'Practice and the Passion' and Bill Palmers 'Dimples to Wrinkle and Beyond' Both pike books and both great reads. Less rigs and rods, more stories and anecdotes about people, places etc . They both made me want to pick up the rods and go fishing . I can also recommend ' Barbel, A Lifetimes Addiction by Trefor West. Since it was a self published book with limited copies, you might have to look for it on Ebay.

Edited December 1, 2005 by argyll

[Dick Dastardly]

Yep sure does! Well first of all I would reccomend a fairly comprehensive "how to book".Out of the modern books I wouldnt hesitate to reccomend John Wilsons Coarse Fishing,published by Ted Smart (ISBN 1 856133 1440) if you have trouble getting a copy try ringing 01925 235333.

Like Wilson as a TV presenter or not there is no getting away from the fact that he is an extremely acomplished angler.This book gives you all the info on the common UK species,their habitat,location and methods and tackle for them.Just as good as the more specialised single species books.

 

Carp wise I think everyone should own a copy of Kevin ________s book Carp Fever (preferably one of the later editions as these cover fishing abroad as well) This was the book that realy caused the carp fishing explosion here and on the Continent.A bit dated tackle and rig wise but all the basics of location and bait making still ring true.

 

Pike wise the best modern book is my old mate ET's book Mega Pike.A nice combination of tactics,techniques and stories. Ive not read Dave Hortons (who posts on here) so cant comment.

 

River specimen fishing it would have to be Tony Miles's book (er which I cant remember the title of as Ive lent it out!)

 

These are all modern (except for Carp Fever I supose?) books with all the latest ideas.I think its nice for guys like yourself to also have a read of some of the older books which really gave birth to the modern specimen scene.Tackle and tactics are a bit out dated now but as well as a historical interest the older books give much more insight into things like watercraft.For these I would have to reccomend-

 

Still Water Angling by Richard Walker.

Gravel Pit Angling by Peter Stone.

Confessions of a Carp Angler by BB

 

An entertaining "fishing story" book is Cypry the Carp by Peter Mohan.This is a purely imaginary but most entertaining story of the paralel lives of a record carp and the angler who eventualy catchs it.

 

Despite them being the gospel in their day the Pike books by Barrie Rickards,Ray Webb,Martin Gay etc are very,very much superceeded now but as with the older carp books the location,watercraft chapters are still very good.

 

Ive not reccomended a specialist Barbel book as I havnt read one! but Im sure some of the others on here could reccomend the best ones.I should imagine Trevor Wests will be among them.

 

Well I hope thats given you a few ideas.Steve Burke may be able to help you with the out of print books.

[Chris Plumb]

Have a look here....

 

http://www.anglers-net.co.uk/bookreview/

 

 

C.

[chappers]

A selection from my own collection in no particular order.

 

Pike

 

The predator becomes the prey- John Bailey, Martyn Page

Pike fishing-Mick Brown

Mega Pike-Eddie Turner

Pike-John Watson

In pursuit of Essox Lucius-Colin Dyson

 

Barbel

 

Barbel "A lifetimes addiction"-Trefor West

The Nature of Barbel-Nick Giles

Quest for barbel-Trefor West and Tony Miles

 

Carp

 

Secret Carp and Casting at the sun-both by Chris Yates

In visible waters and Quest for the queen - John Bailey

Carp Fever-Kevin ________s

 

 

General

 

Keeper of the stream and Man of the riverside both Frank Sawyer- Not so much fishing just good tales of a riverkeeper and the trout fihery he looked after for nearly all his life.

 

Falling in again-Chris Yates

Silver season, Golden memories-Tony Miles

Some of it was fun-Hugh Falkus

The longest Silence- Thomas McGuane

Anything by John Gierach although american flyfishing based

In fact anything by Chris yates or John Bailey

I have read most of the books on the AN review and cChris plumb seems to have read all the books I have and I would pretty much agree with his reviews.

 

and the latest I have read is fishing in the frontline by Nick Sawyer its one of the most interesting books I've read recently it athe diary of a serving soldier who has taken his tackle and fished in the middle of conflicts all around the world.

 

Failing all that get a good fishing diary and fill it in.I haven't kept one for about five years but kept one from when I was about 14 until then and its fascinating to read back and revive some great memories

Edited December 1, 2005 by chappers

[james hunt]

fifty years a fisherman by john wilson.

one of the best books i have ever read. more of a autobiography than a how to do it book but everything revolves around fishing in it. brilliant

[Guest Brumagem Phil]

Thanks very much for your replies fellahs, plenty for me to have a gander through over at amazon.

 

cheers again

[Dick Dastardly]

Ebay often has some of the older books for a few quid in its fishing section.

 

Got to agree with James,I was brought John Wilsons autobiography for an Xmas present and thoroughly enjoyed it.