Fishing Books?

CCMI

CCMI

Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
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I'm just starting to get into fishing and while I've done it before, I've never had any real instruction. I know many people just learn from family or friends, but most of mine aren't interested in fishing.

I'm hoping to get recommendations for beginner books about fishing. Ideally a book that talks about strategy and how-to's so I can do something other than cast and wait.

I've searched on Amazon already, but I trust the opinions of you guys more than some faceless reviewer. Also, I'll be doing freshwater fishing only for now.

So, know any good books?

Thanks in advance.
 
What about magazines? Ive picked up a lot from them. I get Outdoor life, Field and Stream, In Fisherman, and Bassmaster. InFisherman is real good but is somewhat advanced.
 
dipbait said:
What about magazines? Ive picked up a lot from them. I get Outdoor life, Field and Stream, In Fisherman, and Bassmaster. InFisherman is real good but is somewhat advanced.
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That's a good point. I'm kinda looking for something to dive into right away, rather than gleen a bit each month, but I might end up doing that as well.

tonym said:
What is your location?
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SE Michigan.
 
I live in south Florida and am not sure if you location has it, but a few days a week there are fishing shows on television. Those can be helpful. Magazines work. In my opinion however the Internet is better than a book. YouTube some fishing videos. Another thing you can do is go to a bait shop and just talk to the people who work there. They are usually very helpful.

One of the most important things in fishing IMO is knots. Get familiar with a few good fishing knots.

Get out there and just start getting a line in the water. Nothing replaces experience.

I have been fishing since I was 4 years old and still it has to be my favorite hobby.
 
You need to use google. I'm not saying it to be a smart ass, there is SO much information available on the net at your fingertips, it's by far the BEST reference source you can use. There are also many fishing forums that are full of great people that love to share information, just like here on BF. All of the magazines listed have websites with the same articles available in print.

The Freshwater Angler series of books is a great one to look for. I'm not sure where you're located, but if there's a Bass Pro Shops, a Cabela's, or a Gander Mountain nearby, you should be able to find books there. I can only speak for Bass Pro, but I know that the one in Cincinnati has many books on freshwater fishing.
 
cramsey3006 said:
You need to use google. I'm not saying it to be a smart ass, there is SO much information available on the net at your fingertips, it's by far the BEST reference source you can use.
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No offense taken. I agree you're probably right in that I could find anything I wanted online rather than a book. Sometimes I just don't mind paying for someone who's already done the work to condense and organize the information for me. I might check out some videos too. Are the Bill Dance generally considered pretty good?

Once I have a base of knowledge it's easier to search out answers to specific questions, especially online.


Thanks for all the replies.
 
"The Old Man & The Sea"
-Ernest Hemmingway

Not what you asked for but a must read anyway :D

TV fishing shows are a trap.
They are 95% commercial and 5% content.
If you want to learn from them, pay less attention to the "what" and more attention to the "how" and "where"

The In-Fisherman (at least back in the 80-90s) was written in a lure type format instead of a lure specific (Brand X) format.
They were quite innovative in their day.
Many of the mags can be the same trap as the TV shows.

Bunch of folks that like to talk fishing here, ask away.
What do you like to fish for?
 
CCMI said:
I'm just starting to get into fishing and while I've done it before, I've never had any real instruction. I know many people just learn from family or friends, but most of mine aren't interested in fishing.

I'm hoping to get recommendations for beginner books about fishing. Ideally a book that talks about strategy and how-to's so I can do something other than cast and wait.

I've searched on Amazon already, but I trust the opinions of you guys more than some faceless reviewer. Also, I'll be doing freshwater fishing only for now.

So, know any good books?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I used to get North American Fisherman Magazine. It was cheap and had some really useful information and you can save your issues for reference. Field and stream is good but its not strictly a fishing magazine.

I'm sure you will do fine fishing. I've read magazines, online articles, talked to people, got some of the best lures and gear and went fishing with my then 6 yr old daughter. My knowledge and nice gear, her naivety and $10.00 Scoobie Doo Zebco fishing pole; she out fished me!!!!:D

Nothing wrong with wanting to learn fundamentals and techniques, but its not going to make or break you. Get out there and have fun fishing.:)
 
The best advice I can give you is. Go to you local fishing shop and ask where the best local spot is to catch fish. Look for the guy who’s catching the more fish then very one else and ask him why he’s catching more than the others, he might tell you. Have a look at what he’s using in as much detail as you can with out being too much of a pest.
Learning to fish by teaching yourself can be a slow process. Try and find a good fisherman at the spot you want to fish and pick there brain.
 
IDK about your area, but around here most the locally owned outfitters are the best source of what is biting, and where and how to fish for it. Most have printed and online weekly reports of whats going on. Also, see if there are local outdoor publications, here we have one called Woods and Water that has pretty good info.
 
I have been freshwater fishing for 45 years now, and I have always been the guy who gets fish after fish next to you when you get none...lol...For 30+ of those years I used only live bait/corn/dough. I got into lures a few years back and I have had success with them, but I still find different forms of bait far out perform lures. I have always been an action junkie and would rather get 50 panfish in an hour then one bass, so I go after what is biteing and hit them hard. I am also that guy that helps other fisherman, and learns from guys that are using a different method that is working for them. I carry extra small hooks to give to the kid fishing with his dad, and is using hooks bigger than the bluegill he is trying to catch. All that said, I read books about fishing since I was able to read, but my real learning was at the shore line with pole in my hand....
 
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