Knife Island: Circling a Year in a Herring Skiff

by Stephen Dahl

Stephen Dahl earns a living by fishing for Lake Superior herring in an 18-foot skiff. This book records one year of the man's pre-dawn thoughts, the daily tasks and, of course, the dramatic events in the life of a fisherman.

74 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2009

Reviews

[Eric Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fishing is hard work. And Lake Superior is powerful.

[Dan Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Observations through one year of a Lake Superior fishing guy. Interesting what he says about the lake and its currents and moods. Very much enjoyed the book.

[Marie Zhuikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the privilege of meeting the author at a bookselling event and some local fish-related events. He's truly a local "old man of the sea." He knows Lake Superior and the behavior of the weather and the fish. Don't expect a lot of depth from his daily journal entries in this book - they are short -- designed just to give us glimpses into his life. In a way, this disappointed me because I was expecting something more along the lines of the ponderings found in "Gift from the Sea." But it's a fast read, combined with photos that add to the experience. Anyone who wants to understand more about the commercial fishing culture and lifestyle would benefit from a read.