Just Me and the Fish: Memoirs of an Average Angler


Book Description

"You cannot open a book without learning something," a wise man once said. The same wise man also said, "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." A book chiefly about angling memories doesn't appeal to every bookworm who enjoys a good read, but taken the opportunity, you'll find it's about learning something new. It's about experiencing beauty in a different dimension away from everyday life. By three methods we may learn wisdom. First, by reflection, which is noblest;second by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest. For me, 50 years of angling experience has provided the wisdom to understand that life is not all it seems. Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I will understand.




Just Fishing Talk


Book Description

The catching of fish, said the Sage of Chocoloskee, is but an incident in fishing. He told the frozen truth. To be out in the open where fish are; to watch them at their great business of living; to see them in the water or out of the water; to fish for them, and even to hook them and have them get away-all this is wonderfully worthwhile-wonderfully better worthwhile than merely to catch and keep the stiffening fading body of one of the most beautiful forms of life. Gifford Pinchot, twice governor of Pennsylvania and America’s premier fisherman presents twenty-three personal experiences in story form. From the mountain streams of Pennsylvania to the scented isles of the South Seas, the author weaves a magic web of angling enchantment. Just Fishing Talk is ideal armchair entertainment for every man or woman who loves the outdoors. If you are one of those who revel in the tang of salt spray or the fragrance of mountain pin and fern—if you can think of no thrill greater than the swift surge of a hooked fish—you will treasure this book.




Memoirs of a Fish Whisperer


Book Description

The moment a fishing pole was put in five-year-old Dean Ertel's eager hands in a failed attempt to keep him out of trouble, he was hooked-and so were the fish. Seventy years and countless casts later, the fish are still biting in this quirky memoir of a life innately in-tune with the fishes. In Memoirs of a Fish Whisperer, Dean's stories of fishing, camping, hiking, and hunting drift comfortably alongside fishing tips and thoughts on life, nature, and family. With a homey, down-to-earth voice, Dean-a small-town New Jersey boy transplanted to Southwest Missouri-relays his adventures with humor, affection, and a deep appreciation for people, places-and fish!-that have shaped him and brought him joy along the way, one cast at a time. Black-and-white images of Dean's personal photos and original artwork accompany many of the stories. Originally from Titusville, New Jersey, Dean bounced up, down, and around the Midwest before settling in Springfield, Missouri, in the mid-90s. Since retiring from his 40-year career with the Boy Scouts, he is enjoying grandparenthood while continuing to fish, paint, and spin tales both tall and true. Dean's colorful landscape and other paintings often can be seen at various galleries and other arts venues throughout the Springfield area.




The Long Journey Home


Book Description

The Long Journey Home An Angler's Memoir of Passion Realized and Redeemed Moving back to Wisconsin for the first time since leaving in 1974 has put Brian Ellig squarely on memory lane as he begins to write this memoir spanning the last 45 years of his life. Although the book covers a lot of ground, balancing memories of his coast-to-coast career in procurement with his passion for fly fishing, this synopsis of one man's journey in life doesn't dwell on personal travails or the "how to" of fly fishing. Instead, it tells how one man's love of nature and the angle has aided his pursuit of life, liberty and happiness - and the life-changing experiences that came along the way. Brian had just turned 40 when he went on a fishing trip in 1992 with business associate Keith Yenets, an experienced fly fisherman and instructor. The first chapter finds Brian in prime fishing waters among the rolling hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, where although buoyed by 17 years of solid contracted procurement experience and a good marriage, he remains haunted by a basketball career cut short by a serious knee injury in high school that eventually requires knee replacement surgery. This down-to-earth memoir also provides emotional moments such as the despair over his failed athletic dreams and the unlikely coincidence of witnessing the devastating 9/11 attack on the World Trade Towers on Brian's second day in a new work location just blocks from "Ground Zero." To survive the stress of everyday successes and failures, Brian turns to his passion for fly fishing, angling (both on stream and in print) the relaxing waters and experiencing the joy of meeting nature head on. This is the first book for author Brian Ellig, who recently retired from a 37-year career in procurement encompassing the construction and operational support of nuclear and fossil power-generation facilities across the country. He spent the last 18 years of his career in and around New York City working for Consolidated Edison Company of New York's Indian Point Nuclear Generating Station and later in support of their power grid servicing the five boroughs and Westchester County. The avid fly fisherman collects vintage fly fishing books and split-cane fly rods and belongs to the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, Trout Unlimited and River Wildlife. He is currently in the early stages of research for a second book, involving the serendipitous discovery of an endearing network of trout streams in the Black Hills of what was then known as the Dakota Territories - and the elite fraternity of personalities who once fly fished "The Black Hills Circuit."




Fishing for More


Book Description

What are you willing to let go in order to obtain the life you truly want? In this honest and intimate debut memoir, the author discards any widely-held notions of a successful life and sets out to write his own script. Stuck in a tedious corporate life and suffering from a declining physical state, the memories of father/son fishing trips consume the author. After the passing of his grandfather reminds him of the precious time he has left with his own dad, he suggests they purchase a boat together. While reacquainting themselves with the craft of walleye fishing and the vagaries of boat ownership, an unexpected momentum builds toward a potential way out of the corporate grind. As visions of a fishing guide business quickly take shape, he is faced with a massive career choice; hold on to the perceived financial security of a company job or throw it all away to follow his passion. Testing the waters becomes a cathartic process both of personal growth and reacquaintance with his old, childhood self. A must read for fishing and outdoors enthusiasts, however the powerful reflections on life and purpose alongside vivid descriptions of the author's fishing adventures have made this memoir a favorite for a wide variety of readers. Whether you're looking to find yourself, recreate yourself, or just need a vicarious escape from the tedium of life, this relatable story of adventure is sure to inspire you. The author's genuine yet mildly irreverent style will have you laughing one page, crying the next, and give you a sense of hope for your own personal journey.




FISH FOLLOW THE FISHERMAN


Book Description

Although I have had great success as a Fisherman, I've only just scratched the surface of what can be done. In these pages are recorded my journey, beginning with fishing with my grandfather and father, and continuing to fish with Heavenly Father. This is my journey to learn how to harness the power of the spiritual world and become "the fisherman the fish would follow." The journey is not yet complete, and the lessons I learned are not limited to fishing. They apply equally to every aspect of life. It is now my desire to pass on what I have learned, and my hope is that the next generation can pick up where I left off.




Memoirs of an Angler


Book Description




An Incompleat Angler


Book Description




I Fished My Way Through Life


Book Description

The wild life story of a retired Alaskan fishing guide!




Joe and Me


Book Description

Every lover of the outdoors will cherish this journal about a young man and the mentor who opens his heart to the spirit of nature -- from the celebrated twenty-two-year-old author of Trout: An Illustrated History. When James Prosek was just fifteen, a ranger named Joe Haines caught him fishing without a permit in a stream near his home in Connecticut. But instead of taking off into the pouring rain like his fishing buddy, James put down his rod and surrendered. It was a move that would change his life forever. Expecting a small fine and a lecture, James instead received enough knowledge about fishing and the great outdoors to last a lifetime. The story of this unlikely friendship between two menone old, one youngJoe and Me is brimming with both the enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of experience. As Joe passes on his affection for nature to his eager young student, James's reflections are, in turn, intimate and expansive, inspirational and full of wonder. With twenty rugged and richly colorful illustrations in the style that first brought James critical acclaim, and graceful prose that belies an insightfulness far beyond his years, Joe and Me is a one-of-a-kind journal by a talent The New York Times has dubbed "a fair bid to become the Audubon of the fishing world."