When Tony Lyons, the publisher of Skyhorse Publishing, asked me if I could put together a massive book of fishing tips, I had to pause. I know a fair amount about trout fishing, sure, and probably a thing or two about bass, panfish, and a couple of saltwater species, but I sure am not a walking encyclopedia on all things fishing. But the more I thought about this project, the more I realized that I would have to get other people involved if I wanted to assemble an all-encompassing tactics book that would be of use to fishermen anywhere. My plan? Simple: I would gather as many good fishing books as I could find, contact the various authors for permission to use some of their stuff, and then put together a compendium. There’s no way I can speak knowledgeably about largemouths the way Bill Dance and Roland Martin can; nor can I talk the saltwater talk like Capt. Al Ristori or Conway Bowman; nor can I rival Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis on the many aspects of flyfishing for trout.
What you have in your hands is the result of my poring over innumerable books on fishing (not a bad way to spend your time, I have to admit). In these pages you’ll see many well-known names in the world of fishing; of more importance, you’ll see hundreds and hundreds of proven tips on the fish that you like to catch. They’re all here: bass, trout, walleyes, panfish, pike, pickerel, muskellunge, salmon, catfish, shad, saltwater species such as stripers, bluefish, tarpon, and tuna … and more. There’s a section on ice fishing, one on boating safety, one on gear for all types of angling. Cooking? Got that covered. Good stories to read at the end of the day? Got that covered as well.
So wade into these pages, and be prepared to learn some valuable tips on fishing. You’ll become a better fisherman in the process, guaranteed!
Jay Cassell
Katonah, New York
October 27, 2011
