The Complete Guide to North American Freshwater Game Fishing - Hardcover

Waszczuk, Henry; Labignan, Italo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1550133853 ISBN 13: 9781550133851

Publisher: Key Porter Books, 1992

Synopsis

The Complete Guide to North America Freshwater Game Fish profiles 32 popular game fish of North America, many well known for the fighting qualities that make angling such an exciting challenge.

The Complete Guide to North America Freshwater Game Fish covers appearance, size, distribution, behavior, habitat, and the best fishing tackle and techniques to land your quarry. Helpful tips give the fisherman an extra edge in catching everything from a 35-pound muskie to a 5-pound bass. For those anglers who are concerned about conservation, there is detailed information on catch-and-release techniques and the equipment necessary to return fish safely to the water.

Over 120 color photographs and 30 line drawings provide easy identification, and range maps show the distribution of each species throughout North America. Information on lures, baits, rods and other equipment, and a glossary make this comprehensive handbook an essential guide for every angler.

About this title

About the Author

Henry Waszczuk is the president and publisher of the Canadian Sportfishing Communications Network.

Italo Labignan is the chief executive officer. They are two of North America's foremost angling educators, and have great expertise in fishing for North American species in both fresh and salt water and are authors of Freshwater Fishing: 1000 Tips from the Pros.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

North America, with its freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers, is home to hundreds of freshwater-fish species of every description and size. Angling for these fish has become a booming leisure activity for millions of North Americans, young and old. Our Canadian Sportfishing team has had the rare good fortune to fish in numerous parts of this continent and to become familiar with many fish species. During these fishing trips for our television shows, books, and magazine articles, we have accumulated a large body of experience that we would like to share with you so that your fishing can become more productive and enjoyable.

Our experience also came in handy when it was time to choose the species to be showcased in this book. Our selection criteria went well beyond the conventional, narrow definitions of "game fish." How did we choose some species of fish over others? Size was a key factor -- big fish are always interesting. Fighting qualities were also of prime importance, as well as public interest. For example, the sunfish family is very popular with countless anglers from all over North America. Another key factor was availability. We felt it was important to cover species that could be and would be encountered by average as well as dedicated anglers. Lastly, we felt that various underutilized species merited some exposure in this book - fish that were not well known but well worth fishing for. We hope we have achieved a pleasant and informative balance between traditional "game fish," and a few interesting and accessible "newcomers" as well. Angling is, after all, fun, and variety is the spice of life.

Our Canadian Sportfishing experience also taught us what kinds of information should be included for each species chosen for the book. Our aim was to give you more information that would enable you to become a better angler. One of the often frustrating realities of fishing for sport is the fact that only a few anglers take most of the fish. Ever wonder why? Is it just simple luck? We think not. We believe that, to become successful, the angler has to do a bit of homework first. We've found that a little knowledge goes a long way, so we've put together an educational profile of each species featured in this book. From now on, you'll know your quarry.

There is detailed information on species identification, size limits and distribution, preferred habitats, spawning behavior, and unique dietary needs. Each species profile also includes an outline of fishing tackle and techniques, as well as special tips to give you that little bit of extra knowledge to "put you over the top."

North America offers the finest and most varied freshwater fishing in the world. We hope that this book will spark your interest in the art of angling and increase your appreciation for North America's freshwater fisheries. We know it will make you a better angler.

Edition details

• Publisher: Key Porter Books
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1550133853
• ISBN 13: 9781550133851
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192