Fish Books

My 6-year-old daughter just LOVED this book! She had some concept of tadpoles and frogs -- but this book really helped her understand how the process works. Not only that, but she truly enjoyed the story. We have enjoyed every Marjorie Flack book that we have read together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned immensely from it. I just cannot express in the English language the effect that this book had on my life.

As a young kindergarten teacher, I looked forward to our lessons each year on the life cycle of frogs. Reading Tim Tadpole and the Great Bullfrog to my students was always a fun experience, as the children identified so closely with the growth and change that Tim was experiencing. The triumph of the ending, when Tim emerges from the water using his strong new legs, was thrilling for the children. The copy I used from our school library in the early 80's was already quite old. I've scoured used book sales and thrift shops in vain, hoping to find a copy for my self. Maybe one day this book could be reprinted, perhaps with colorful new illustrations to appeal to today's 4-6 year olds. I would be first in line to buy it!

For a Japanese, who always feels sad and embarrassed whenever hearing American politicians still quote "Remember Pearl Harbor" as the phrase to unite people, this book is really eye-opening.

In this book, Mr. Hamilton Fish provides readers with the real and unfortunately-little-known account of what was going on behind the closed door of the FDR's White House during the last days leading up to the Japan-American War.

At the dawn on the 7th December in 1941, American people were sound asleep, soon to be awakened by the attack on Pearl Harbor. Since then, America has come a long way, fighting for freedom and democracy around the globe, having revolutionized herself from being a big isolationist power to the only Super Power that has survived every war she fought.

That's the foreground of history; this book provides you with the hidden-background and the rest of the story, making you wonder whether America was really awakened in the true sense of the word.

This book also makes readers wonder what kind of democracy American people have--assuming that, as indicated in the book, many of whom still remain under the spell of the war-time propaganda of FDR government--even if America has succeeded making the rest of the world the better and safer place for democracy.

Mr. Hamilton Fish says to the effect:people have to know the truth;otherwise America can no longer be the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

However, my impression after reading this book is : America can continue to be the government of the people and by the people, and to be the center of world conscience as far as American conscience symbolized by Mr. Hamilton Fish's--a desire to let truth speak if it hurts--remains alive and people remain ready to face the truth.

Being a baby boomer and raised on 'rewritten' history (aka the media version), this short text opened my eyes to the realities of America's involvement in WWII. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor shocked the citizenry and brought America together in a patriotic frenzy similar to the horrific events of 9/11. In the case of Pearl Harbor however, FDR *asked for it* it by giving Japan an ultimatum in late November, 1941. On the morning of 6 December, the response was received and the executives in the White House sat anxiously awaiting the attack *without* warning the leaders stationed in Hawaii. Why was this done? The book explains it.

Getting into the war is not the only thing this book explores but the concept of FDR's plans for post-war Europe will chill any proud American to the core. This is where Hiss and his buddies did their best work. If it were up to FDR, France would be under communist rule today. No wonder the French are wary and bitter!

Thanks to Ann Coulter, I was motivated to learn more about the era that created the Venona Project and to find this book. As Coulter recently dispelled the myth of 'McCarthyism', this book dispells the myth of the innocence of FDR's administration before, during and after WWII. I am ashamed America was fooled at the time but moreso that there are still people in positions of power and influence intent on perpetuating so many myths. I anticipate future textbooks will have the index entry: 'Starrism'. It is sad that a quest for truth in the realms of the government results in the vilification of good men.

The memory of Hamilton Fish deserves our respect and gratitude for publishing the truth. It is unfortunate that we have to look so hard for it!

Pearl Harbor was the ticket FDR needed to get into WWII.
The goal was to protect Stalin and Communism. Why didn't
America go on to fight the Communists at the end of WWII?
Why was General George S. Patton Jr. treated so poorly
when he spoke of defeating the mongoloid Russians? Why did FDR manage to ramrod 10 goals of the Communist Manefestio through Congress in his nearly 16 yrs? The answer is FDR was a Communist. FDR saved Stalin and Mao from defeat and cost this country dearly in the years after WWII. To this day the press in America is under Communist control. They were behind FDR because he was one of them! The New York Times never reported the Stalin created famine in the Ukraine in the 1930s. They won't cover the truth in Iraq today! Today Americans face the threat of a Communist Supreme Court confiscating private property. The FDR legacy must be reversed!!!

This is a book I had years ago and lost
It is juat as listed and very fast delivery
I would highly recommend this dealer

I was given a paper back version of this book by a young lady who knew I was into fly fishing. She was going to throw the book out but I was lucky enough to be the recipient of her kind deed. This was the only book I ever read about trout fishing. The way he described his youth in developing his skills in becoming a fly fisherman made me feel comfortable in the start of long journey to enjoy catching trout with flies. The description on how to fish streams helped me in my effort to hunt for trout. If it was not for this book I probably would not have pursued this sport with the enjoyment I have for the last 20 years. I have a deep regret that this book magically disappeared from my house a few years ago but I can still see the pages in my mind when I am on a stream searching for trout. For me this was my text book for learning about fly fishing for trout.

Mention the name of Ray Bergman to any group of grey-haired flyfishermen, and they will nod knowingly. Even today, Trout is looked upon as a must in any fisherman's, and especially a flyfisherman's, library.

Why? Certainly there is no shortage of literature on fishing and flyfishing. Many gifted writers have turned their talents to both the beauties and practicalities of fishing; yet Bergman is one of the few whose work has endured well past the author's lifetime. Ted Janes, editor of the book's last edition in 1976, goes so far as to include Trout in the same category as such cornerstones of the fishing literature as Dame Juliana Berners' Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle, Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler, Alfred Ronalds' The Fly-Fisher's Entomology, and W.C. Prime's I Go a-Fishing.

Trout speaks in a unique voice, and its voice is independent of the listener's time era. When the reader absorbs the information, he can almost picture Bergman sitting down next to him and talking to him. His very first words in the book - the dedication - immediately invite the reader to a closeness, a camaraderie.

"To you all - The many good fellows I know and have fished with, and those whose paths may never cross mine except through the medium of these pages. This is my visit with you, our fishing adventure together. I trust it will be enjoyable, instructive, and memorable."

Bergman's talents of observation and instruction are a pleasure to read. They allow the reader to immediately envision what the water is doing, what the weather is like, and how the fish are behaving. And the reader can just as easily picture himself working through the approaches that Bergman describes to the different angling puzzles he presents. Bergman details step-by-step trials, including some errors, that culminate in each puzzle's solution.

In one example, he describes an episode fishing with a companion at Brodhead's Creek in Pennsylvania. As happens with all of us, initial efforts proved fruitless.

"Because a few fish were rising we first used dry flies, but after a half hour without results we changed to wets. I don't know how many times Fred changed his flies, but I know that I tried a dozen patterns before I got a rise - to a size 14 Orange Fish Hawk that was being manipulated close to the surface by the 'hand twist' retrieve. Because occasionally the trout were breaking on the surface, we kept fishing our flies near the top, but after an hour of hard work we still had only one fish, which had taken the Orange Fish Hawk the first time it was used."

He proceeded to experiment with different depths, keeping the Hawk on and using the same retrieve style. After finding the proper depth, he exults that the "combination of depth and retrieve proved to be what was needed, and we both took quite a number of fish before tiring of the location."

This illustrates the kind of analysis that Bergman used, his powers of observation, and attention to detail. His unproductive efforts in the episode are an important part of the analysis, and he is not shy about recording them faithfully.

The appeal of his anecdotes is timeless, because, after all, a trout's gene pool and its inherent behavior patterns have changed very little over the past hundred years - and we don't expect much change for another hundred years. The types of puzzles Bergman describes are just as likely to be encountered by today's angler as by the anglers of half a century ago.

As Bergman himself observes, his life occurred during that in-between era of history, which saw the last of the so-called "old-fashioned ways" typified by stateliness, Victorian values, and a much slower pace of life. That culture was supplanted by the beginnings of the modern era, characterized by scientific and technological advances and the consequences (both good and bad) thereof. He describes it in the chapter "Early Experience:"

"When I was a boy, conditions were quite different from what they are today. I am old enough to have experienced the old-fashioned ways of the latter part of the nineteenth century and the rapid-fire progress of the twentieth. I saw the horse and carriage give way to the automobile, the dusty roads change rapidly from macadam to Tarvia and then to concrete. Each advance of progress had its effect on fishing."

This bridging or blending of eras has a curious effect on his writing. The Victorian literary style is evident throughout, yet his approaches are clearly influenced by scientific method.

Another aspect of Trout that has helped its longevity is that it appeals to the thinking angler. Much of Bergman's success can be attributed to his powers of observation and deduction, and he clearly communicates the value of these. By encouraging the reader to follow the dictates of his own reasoning rather than simply following the crowds or conventional wisdom, he strikes a chord in the intellectual snob lurking in all of us. The following comes from the chapter "Water Types and How to Fish Them."

"Most of us have so little time,... we think we must fish the best-looking spots where everyone else fishes because they must be good or no one else would fish them. This is false reasoning, because we are relying on precedents established by easy fishing and in most cases by anglers who have followed the established rules rather than the dictates of their own minds. It would pay larger dividends if we spent more time at thinking and observing than at fishing. Remember that locating fish is more than half the battle. When you know exactly where they are, then you can intelligently fish for them. Otherwise you are simply trusting to luck."

All of these factors came together at one time in history, in one man, and in a book called, simply, Trout. As long as there are members of the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo, or Salvelinus swimming in streams and lakes, and there are people trying to deceive them into taking a pointed, bent piece of metal in their mouths, Trout's place will remain secure.

Oliver Shapiro

Great illustrations of different trout for every month, and a little info provided with each one.

I buy this calendar for my dad every year. I know calendars can be a cheesy gift but he loves this one. He hangs it in his office and he says it reminds him of his favorite hobby, trout fishing.

As a Trout fisherman, I don't need a calendar with pretty fly fishing scenes, I can see pretty scenes any time I desire. I want a pretty calendar that educates. This is the one! This is and has always been in the past, the best of its type.

This is for people that truly value a book for its art. This is an almost magical work with scenes of trout, insects, and natural history. The illustrations in this book are some of the best I have ever seen. I was surprised to find the illustrator and writer are the same. A great book for your coffee table, library, or classroom. The only problem I have is that I did not find it sooner. ¸

I found this book in the library and kept reading it so long I paid twice the cost of the book in fines. Now, I've ordered my own copy because I cannot be without it.

Written in the style of Aldo Leopold's _Sand County Almanac_, this is a focused study of stream ecology, But it is not a dry book of science. It is a story of a stream through four seasons. The author writes of a place he knows well through a lifetime of hiking and fishing, but where he can still experience childlike wonder. Through his narrative, the reader learns about the fish, the water, plants and insects, birds and beasts, and the relationships that sustain the cycles of life and death along a stream. The author offers perspectives that develops a sense of ecological responsibility.

This book is a delight for anyone interested in the outdoors & nature. The title sounds like the book would be for undergraduates in Fish Culture; however, it is a happy surprise to find that David M. Carroll has written a wonderful, lyrical account of the life of trout including the environment and all the living creatures, critters, and flora that enter the facinating world in the life cycle of the fish. His lovely drawings add to the naturalists' delight! His account of fishing for these elusive fish should catch the fishermen among his readers, too!

This book is an extraordinary gift to flyfishers in the WI, MN, IA, etc. It distills years of knowledge about patterns and their use under various conditions. Goes beyond the common patterns to describe variations that will fool educated trout. My all-time favorite.

A must have if you are planning to fish for trout in Wisconsin or Minnesota. Well organized. Color pictures of flies along with recipes and how to fish them. What else could you want.

Pulling 40 years worth of observation and fishing experience Ross Mueller has written a practical and useful book. It contains over 100 fly patterns that will catch trout in the Upper-Midwest. This is a MUST have book for anyone that plans to fish the area. Not only do you read about what flies to use, but also how to tie them and HOW to fish them!

I love this book. It contains great information about when and why trout feed, yes. It has a nice section with great pencil sketches intended to help a beginner learn how to read water. But mostly, I just love the writing itself, and what it says about the curious spirit of the author. It's intelligent, clear, and concise. This is the kind of fly fisherman I aspire to be.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of how and where trout live and feed. This guy has done his homework and teaches you how to "read the water". Well worth reading.

If you're looking for a book that gives you details about the way trout live and feed, this is it. The author does a fine job of converting his years of experience on rivers and streams into words. Although my wife mocks me, I've read it numerous times. Certainly not a book for the casual reader, but it's helped me as a fly-fisherman to better know how and where trout feed, meaning more successful days on the water.

If you like to read/collect outdoor cookbooks this is for you; and if you can collect the ingredients this is especially for you. If after collecting these ingredients, you wish to actually cook and eat your catch this really is your book -- try all the recipes for everything you've taken. He offers all the accompaniments for your meal.

Mr. Manikowski illustrations offer a better view of my fly box than I have -- and I tied them myself!

He also tells stories of his fishing and hunting exploits as well as I hope my friends do.

Fun to read and fun to cook from -- more useful and better illustrated than Rebecca Gray's best!

This is a beautifully written book. For those of us who read cookbooks for pleasure as well as use them for food preparation will find a "two in one treat" here. Beautifully illustrated by the author. Delicious and artful recipes. I strongly recommend. I've given several to my "hunter" friends and they just love it.

I have been disappointed in many wild game cookbooks in the past. As a result I have started borrowing them from the local library to read and use first. When I started reading this book I knew I had to purchase it for my kitchen. The stories are entertaining, and the recipes are delightful. I love his suggestions for side dishes and drinks to accompany the maincourse. A must have if you enjoy eating and cooking wild game.

Great text, excellent illustrations. If you are interested in trout or coldwater fish this book is for you.

The book entitled About Trout by Robert J. Behnke is very well-written and is a joy to read. The author has incredible knowledge of the many species of trout and salmon in the USA and other countries, and he obviously loves both the science and esthetics of his field. Each essay--there are about forty--on a particular species of fish is accompanied by a beautiful illustration in color. One example tells about the Greenback Cutthroat trout, reasons for its decline, and successful efforts to reverse its slide toward extinction. This is an excellent book to own or to give as a gift.About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine

This is a delightful book for children to build character.My 7 year old loved it and so does my 3 year old.Since my 7 year old is now getting invited to parties from classmates,he understands that sometimes you may not be invited and this book helped him to learn about disappointment and to learn that mistakes happen .This is a great book for this age group.

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (8/07)

Everyone else is invited, why not me? Maybe you've been asked "Are you going to the party?" You haven't even heard about any party. Why did everyone else get asked but not me? What's wrong with me? It just seems like no one likes me.

Oliver is a clownfish with a problem. He cannot understand why he didn't get invited to Sally's party. He thought they were good friends. Oliver asks all his other school friends why Sally didn't invite him. Surely there is a good explanation. An explanation is just what Oliver is seeking.

I loved this book! The illustrations are so cute. The many different kinds of fish are so adorable and so colorful. I think this book will help little children discover that maybe they didn't get the invitation when others did, but it's not really a reflection of them. I would love to read another book about the adventures of Oliver the clownfish. I hope Stephanie Guzman writes more books about Oliver's adventures and the trials that are facing children today.

Note from Brianne's mother: "The Adventures of Oliver the Clownfish" is an excellent book for children who are feeling left out of the fun at parties. It is also a splendid book for beginning readers with its less than 50 words on each two-page spread.