Influential Books

[Dunkield]

I had a quick flick through a couple of pike fishing books last night.

It was only when I realised how familiar the words and pictures were that I wondered how many times I must have done the same over the years before heading off on a fishing trip.

 

For Pike fishing for me the big ones are:

'The Preditor Becomes the Prey' - this provided us with some great tips for fishing the Thames years ago and inspired us to get out there on cold mornings

and the most obscurely titled 'Spinners, Spoons and Wobbled Baits' - A Barry Rickards book I referrd back to last year when I built and ultralight spinning rod

 

So, what books have influenced you, and provided you with pearls of wisdom over the years?

[dusk2dawn]

For Gundogs it has to be Peter Moxon, Joe Irving and Martin Deeley.

 

In my time I have, I think, read 95% of available books from Col Konrad Most 1914, R Sharpe 1924, through to Susan Scales, James Douglas and the "modern" icons.

 

What strikes me is, that apart from a greater understanding and willingness on our part to appreciate training from the dogs perspective, nothing really has changed very much apart from the training aids.

 

For Fox control it has to be Robert Bucknell, a bible for Fox Shooters.

 

For Fly Fishing ...... J R Hartley Yes its on the shelf, remember the yellow pages ad on TV?

 

:unsure: D2D

[Dunkield]

I was bought the Robert Bucknall book for Christmas, as you say about other books nothing has realy changed, gadgets come and go but fieldcraft is still the best tool.

I like Jackie Drakefords Rabbit Control book as well.

For fly fishing or game fishing in general it has to be Hugh Falkus, even though I disagree with views on catch and release, he is another legend.

[lurcherboy]

My first impressionable tome was Playboy and later on in life I settled on Escort as my bible.

 

Fishing wise was an original Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing that that my mater threw out as a punishment for some misdemeanor that I felt was unjust at the time but was probably well in order.

 

 

I miss both reads now

 

 

 

 

 

LB

[Mungler]

• To kill a mockingbird
  
• 1984
  
• Farhenheit 451
  
• All's quiet on the Western front
  
• Othello
  

Interestingly whilst at school I had a series of free thinking left wing English teachers (as most are).

 

For a right wing tory boy such as myself, it did manage to teach me the power of free thought.

 

As for shooting texts, well every shooting magazine known to man kind is deposited round the bogs at home and work

Edited February 2, 2008 by Mungler

[henry d]

[*]To kill a mockingbird

Top book.................

 

I`m with LB as regards fishing, Mr.C was tops.

 

For sheer shooting sense, Robert Bucknell

[Chard]

Anglers Moon by Leo Walmsley.

 

About Cod fishing off Whitby and at Robin Hoods Bay. Top book. So well written that it always made me want to get the rod out and get down the beach (when I used to live near the sea)

 

Also Successful Shore Fishing by Anthony Pearson. Accounts of some of his trips, also made me want to get the gear out

 

Both out of print now though - but I've still got them both

 

Non-fishing, but The Peregrine by J.A. Baker is worth a read. About the authors study of wintering Peregrine Falcons on the marshes and coasts of Essex. The best descriptive writing I've ever read, you could almost be there with him when you read it - fantastic. He also wrote another book - The Hill of Summer. Equally descriptive writing, but didn't quite do it for me like The Peregrine did.

Edited February 4, 2008 by Chard