The History Book Club discussion

GONE FISHING



I surprised myself when I looked and did not have Fishing as a sport which it is as well as a very relaxing activity.

I guess folks may have debated whether fishing was a sport or a hobby for decades but I will add it here as well. We can talk here about freshwater fishing, lake fishing, river fishing, bass fishing, deep sea fishing, fly fishing - you name it.

Possibly I should have a folder for hobbies.

HALIBUT ANYBODY?

FOR THE RECORD An Outdoor // Excursions Blog

German fisherman catches world-record 515-pound Atlantic halibut


Marco Liebenow thought he hooked a submarine while fishing Norwegian waters; fish was so big it wouldn’t fit into the 19-foot boat

August 16, 2013 by David Strege

A fisherman from Germany caught the fish of a lifetime, a world-record Atlantic halibut that was so big it wouldn’t fit into the boat.

Marco Liebenow was fishing with three friends in a 19-foot boat in Norwegian waters when he hooked what he thought was “a submarine,” according to a Friday report in the UK Daily Mail.

By halibut fishing standards, it was a submarine. The Atlantic halibut weighed 515 pounds, smashing the existing IGFA world record of 419 pounds caught in Norwegian waters in July 2004.

After a 90-minute battle, Liebenow managed to reel the fish to the surface. But once the fishermen saw how big it was, they realized the fish was too big to haul into the small boat. So they tied a rope around its tail.

“The flounder could be towed only with the greatest effort and with great sensitivity to the port,” fishing tour company Angelreisen Hamburg explained (via translation) on its Facebook page.

At the dock, the fish was hoisted out of the water by crane and weighed. After photos, Liebenow donated the fish to a local fish dealer, and then celebrated his catch with a few beers.

“[Marco] does not speak any English but has said it was a wonderful feeling to catch it and has called it a fish of a lifetime,” David Bottcher, Angelreisen Hamburg fishing tours spokesman who arranged the trip, told the Daily Mail. “Before he left for the trip, he called us first to ask for a few hints about how and where to fish—I guess our advice paid off.”

It did, in a big way.

The 9-foot fish, caught in waters off Kjollefjord last month, is awaiting IGFA world-record approval.

Photos courtesy of Angelreisen Hamburg Facebook page.

This is the grandaddy of fishing books although it is more meditative than technical. Walton felt that fishing was a time for contemplation, as well as sport.

The Compleat Angler

by Izaak Walton (no photo)

Synopsis

Walton's popular classic treatise on fishing goes far beyond techniques, as it embraces a life that values serenity and appreciation for creation. Some of the natural history lore is antiquated, but keen intelligence and good humor express themselves in a readable and enjoyable manner.

Thanks Jill

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Note: Novel

by Paul Torday

Synopsis:

British businessman and dedicated angler Paul Torday has found a way to combine a novel about fishing and all that it means with a satire involving politics, bureaucrats, the Middle East, the war in Iraq, and a sheikh who is really a mystic. Torday makes it all work in a most convincing way using memos, interviews, e-mails, and letters in clever juxtaposition.

Dr. Alfred Jones is a fisheries scientist in Great Britain who is called upon to find a way to introduce salmon into the desert in Yemen. The Yemeni sheikh will spare no expense to see this happen. He says:
It would be a miracle of God if it happened. I know it... If God wills it, the summer rains will fill the wadis... and the salmon will run the river. And then my countrymen... all classes and manner of men--will stand side by side and fish for the salmon. And their natures, too, will be changed. They will feel the enchantment of this silver fish... and then when talk turns to what this tribe said or that tribe did... then someone will say, "Let us arise, and go fishing."


Such is the sheikh's vision. He tells Alfred: "Without faith, there is no hope. Without faith, there is no love." Alfred has no religious faith and has been mired in a loveless marriage for twenty years, so these words seem fantastic to him.

Alfred and Sheikh Muhammad connect immediately through their mutual love of fishing, despite Alfred's misgivings about the viability of the project. The Prime Minister's flack man tells Alfred that he must persevere and succeed because Great Britain needs some positive connection to the Middle East, something other than a failing, flailing war. These kinds of political alliances are always shaky at best, and when things start to go sideways, allies have a way of disappearing. Alfred soldiers on, with the help of the lovely Harriet, Sheikh Muhammad's land agent, and the project is readied for opening day, when the Sheikh and the Prime Minister will have a 20-minute photo op.

All of the faith and good will in the world cannot overcome the forces ranged against them, bringing tragedy to everyone involved. Despite all, Alfred's interior life is changed immeasurably. He says in the end: "I believe in it, because it is impossible." --Valerie Ryan(less)

Awards:

Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction

Exclusive Books Boeke Prize Nominee (2007)

I have caught more small mouth bass with these two baits than anything else.


Hellgrammite



Mepps Spinner (undressed)

Here is a favorite fishing book that my father and I shared. I consider the color camping photos priceless.

Trout Magic

by Robert Traver

Synopsis
Trout Magic is a warm, joyous, and maverick look at trout fishing and its attendant tall tales, strange happenings, and all-around fishing lore. Traver recounts the story of a mysterious "dancing fly, " speaks pointedly about "kiss-and-tell" fishermen, debunks fly fishermen as the "world's greatest snobs, " lets us in on the fishing story Life missed, and takes us along on his strangest fishing trip. We meet the unforgettable Danny McGinnis, guide, and other choice characters and events from his anything-but-ordinary fishing trips. Traver even has some new angles on women anglers and does a free piece of tongue-in-cheek literary sleuthing into Ernest Hemingway's story "Big Two-Hearted River."

There's enough trout magic here to rub off on every reader -- man, woman, or child -- as Robert Traver weaves his inimitable storytelling spell. Trout Magic is a marvelous catch of wit, wisdom, and anecdote sure to delight everyone who enjoys a master storyteller who just happens to write here about his wonderful world of trout fishing.

This is a great fishing book with a smorgasbord collection of small chapters written by individual authors including literary author/fisherman such as Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey and even Lewis Carroll. What, a fictious fishing story or two also?

The Armchair Angler

edited by Terry Brykczynski (no photo)

Synopsis
Fifty fiction and nonfiction tales for dedicated fishermen span three hundred years of writing, and include the works of Izaak Walton, Nick Lyons, Lewis Carroll, Herbert Hoover, Ted Williams, Norman Maclean, and others.

Thanks to all of the fishermen and women (Mark and Jill) in this group for the adds above.

Some people turn up their nose at fishing for catfish but there is nothing better than a fried in cornmeal blue channel cat. I would not recommend that one eat the mud cat, however, which is common in southern waters. I even turn my nose up at that one.

Catfish Fishing

by Robert Z. Cohen (no photo)

Synopsis:

The characteristic barbles on this fish always give it awayits the majestic catfish. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the common bullhead to the giant Mekong cat of southeast Asia. This great resource is robust with technical information, including a breakdown of all indispensable bait and tackle, an explanation of the essential fisherman knots, and a discussion on safety. Captivating sidebars give a glimpse into the world of competitive noodlingthats catching giant catfish with your arm! The reader is also reminded that we share an ecosystem with this unique creature and we owe it to ourselves to take care of their habitats for future generations of fishermen.

Sounds interesting

Caught some nice small mouths on this top water plug, the famous Jitterbug. Great for streams where there are some fairly still backwaters.

Now here is a catch that you never expect since they are fairly rare but do live in WV waters......the Paddlefish or "Spoonie". A scary looking big fellow. A friend of mine pulled one in and about fainted. He released it back to the river after he took pictures that proved he caught a spoonie.

They are strange looking - any books about spoonies or lures.

The spoonie is seldom seen but if so, they are well worth a look. If you catch one, release him since they are somewhat endangered.

Paddlefish

by Jesse Russell (no photo)

Synopsis:

Paddlefish (family Polyodontidae) are primitive Chondrostean ray-finned fishes. The paddlefish can be distinguished by its large mouth and its elongated, spatula-like snout, called a rostrum, which is longer than the rest of the head. These fish are not closely related to sharks, which are in a different taxonomic class, but they do have some body parts that resemble those of sharks such as their skeletons, primarily composed of cartilage, and their deeply forked heterocercal tail fins. This type of fish's age is hard to determine but many scientists think that they live 50 years or more.

Here is something that I hate to catch and they are everywhere in our rivers. They have many names.....we call them "water dogs", but they are also called "mud puppies" or "hellbenders". Catch one and it walks up the bank toward you......no thanks. Cut the line and back up even though they are harmless. Some really get quite large while others are small enough to use for bait. Don't like the big guys.

Tree Frogs, Mud Puppies and Other Amphibians

by Daniel Gilpin (no photo)

Synopsis:

From movement and migration to camouflage and community, these books cover all of the facts about the featured animals in each classification. Beautiful design complements bright photographs while fast-paced text highlights interesting information about each animal.

Thanks for the adds.

In the South, the panfish are called bream (pronounced "brim") and include sunfish (pumpkin seeds), rock bass,willow bass, crappies, and blue gill. These are the ones you keep and fry rolled in cornmeal. Bones are sometimes a problem but it is worth picking through them for these delicious fish.

Catching Panfish: Tactics for Sunfish, Crappies, Yellow Perch and White Bass

by Shawn Perich (no photo)

Synopsis:

Each year, more than 30 million anglers go after these popular freshwater fish. This basic outdoor reference book in the Freshwater Angler series is a complete how-to guide with detailed, step-by-step information accompanied by close-up photographs. The author identifies each common North American species, discusses where to find it and reveals what strategies and equipment work best for catching sunfish (bluegill, redear, pumpkinseed, redbreast, warmouth, green, longear), perch (yellow, white, Rio Grande, Sacramento, flier), crappies and bass. Chapters include details on fishing from a boat versus the shore, finding the best rod, reel and line, choosing the best terminal tackle, keeping live bait, fly fishing and ice fishing methods for success.

Written by a conservationist, this book takes on the "fishing for recreation" hobby and how government (both state and federal) is destroying the natural habitat for native species.

Quest for the Golden Trout

by Douglas M. Thompson (no photo)

Synopsis:

The angler's dream of fishing pristine waters in unspoiled country for sleek, healthy trout has turned fishing into a form of theater. It is a manufactured experience--much to the detriment of our rivers and streams. Americans' love of trout has reached a level of fervor that borders on the religious. Federal and state agencies, as well as non-governmental lobbying groups, invest billions of dollars on river restoration projects and fish-stocking programs. Yet, their decisions are based on faulty logic and risk destroying species they are tasked with protecting. River ecosystems are modified with engineered structures to improve fishing, native species that compete with trout are eradicated, and nonnative invasive game fish are indiscriminately introduced, genetically modified, and selectively bred to produce more appealing targets for anglers--including the freakishly contrived "golden trout." The Quest for the Golden Trout is about looking at our nation's rivers with a more critical eye--and asking more questions about both historic and current practices in fisheries management.(

The author of the book cited above calls the Golden Trout, "freakishly contrived". Everyone has their own opinion and mine is that it is a joy to catch one of these beauties......catch and release.

Actually, the "golden trout" refers to a genetic mutation that is being selectively-bred in hatchery rainbow trout and then introduced into local rivers by the thousands... imagine a trout the color of a goldfish. They are indeed "freakishly contrived." I've read "The Quest for the Golden Trout" and it definitely makes you rethink some of the trout/river management practices that are currently being used.

Good comments, Anne. The Golden Trout is a hybrid which doesn't particularly bother me but I was not looking at it from a river management practice since they do no harm and do not overrun the native trout population, at least not in my rural state.. I'm not sure why it is a problem but every person hunting the elusive Golden is thrilled to catch one. I was speaking strictly from a fishman(woman)'s standpoint. :>)

Maybe I missed something but I am very against genetic mutations being introduced in any of our food products.

There is nothing more exciting for the fisherman than having a trout rise to a dry fly. Great fishing!!

Fly Fishing Small Streams

by John Gierach (no photo)

Synopsis

Small-stream fishing wisdom with the same insight and pungent humor that has become Gierach's trademark. Advice on tackle selecting, reading water, and scouting.

Wryly humorous, the author reflects on every aspect of fishing.

The Longest Silence: A Life in Fishing

by Thomas McGuane

Synopsis:

Thomas McGuane's obsession with fish has taken him from the river in his backyard to the holiest waters of the fly-fisher's world. As he travels the fish take him to many and various subjects ripe for random speculation: rods and reels, the classification of anglers according to the flies they prefer, family and memory - right down to why fishermen lie.

Frankly, I never knew anyone who intentionally fished for carp. They are full of bones and are, at least with my fishing friends, considered trash fish. I guess I have been missing something!

Confession of a Carp Fisher

by B.B.

Synopsis:

Carp are the big game of the inland angler, and in this book 'BB' tells of some of his experiences with this very sporting fish, how they may be caught or at any rate hooked, and what is the particular charm of their pursuit. He has included the fascinating stories of other people who have brought specimen carp to the bank.BB's readers will know that he was an expert fisherman and that he has, beyond his great technical knowledge and experience, the power to communicate the meditative atmosphere which has accompanied the art since Walton's days. 'Carping' takes place in warm, summer weather and usually in lovely lily-strewn waters. The author's gift of descriptive writing has seldom been better displayed.First published in 1950, and instantly beloved by fisherman, whether they fish for carp or not, Confessions of a Carp Fisher is a much prized addition to any fishing library.

Crappie (pronounced "croppy") abound in southern waters......fun to fish for them.

The Ultimate Guide to Crappie Fishing

by Emmanuel Mporogoma(no photo)

Synopsis:

The Ultimate Guide to Crappie Fishing was designed for novice and intermediate crappie enthusiasts who wish to learn specific techniques related to hooking these great game fish in the magnificent freshwater bodies of the USA.

What is interesting is that every person of any age can learn how to fish for crappies because they are relatively small and, even though they put up a fight sometimes, they are easy to reel in. This is actually the easy part when you are fishing for crappies: reeling them in.

What is actually more of a challenge is locating and capturing them.

It is hard to think of these huge marine fish as a member of the same family as the little "pumpkin seed" sunfish that are such fun to catch.

Ocean Sunfish

by Jesse Russell (no photo)

Synopsis:

The ocean sunfish, Mola mola, or common mola, is the heaviest known bony fish in the world. It has an average adult weight of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). The species is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. Sunfish can be as tall as they are long when their dorsal and ventral fins are extended.