Wade Bourne - The Pocket Fishing Basics Guide

Copyright 2012 by Wade Bourne
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
ISBN: 978-1-61608-242-0

Printed in China

Photography Credits:
Duane Raver/USFWS: 14, 17, 22, 28
Timothy Knepp/USFWS: 18, 22, 26

I dedicate this book to my late father,
Joe W. Bourne III. He is gone from this world,
but never from my heart. Whatever heaven is like,
I hope it includes a lake full of crappie and
a creaky old johnboat so we can relive those
early days of fishing together.
I love you Pa, and I miss you.

This book will teach you how to catch fishguaranteed! This is true even if you've never fished before. Or, if you have some fishing experience, this book will help you increase your success. It will help you whether you fish from the bank or from a boat. It will help you if you're male or female, young or old, physically able or disabled. It doesn't matter. If you apply the instructions laid out in this pocket book, and do so persistently, you will catch more and bigger fishmore bass, bluegill, walleye, crappie, catfish, etc.guaranteed!

How can I make this promise? I can do so because fishing is an undertaking of skill rather than luck. If you increase and sharpen your skills, you will be more successful. Sure, luck sometimes plays a big role in fishing, but nobody's lucky all the time. But if you learn about fish and their habits; if you know where to find them, if you know how to pick the right tackle and baits, and if you learn how to present these baits so they look natural and inviting to the fish, then your odds of success go up. When skill starts replacing luck, your catch rate will certainly begin to rise.

There is an old saying in fishing that 10 percent of the anglers catch 90 percent of the fish. The reverse of this is that 90 percent of the anglers combine to catch only 10 percent of all fish taken on hook and line. The number of experts is small, while the number of beginners and mid-level fishermen is very large. Chances are, if you're reading this book, you are in the 90 percent group, and will profit from the following basic fishing instruction.

Even if you're an accomplished fisherman, it never hurts to go back and review the fundamentals. Sometimes the simplest oversight can cause an otherwise-sound fishing plan to fail. Coaches in all sports start with the basics, and they build successful programs on this foundation.

However, before getting started, why get into fishing? What will you gain by taking up this sport? There are many answers to these questions, because fishing offers different benefits to different people.

For most, it's a healthy, fresh-air activity that can be enjoyed by anybody. Fishing is no discriminator of age, sex or physical skills. Anyone who makes the effort can find a place and a way to catch fish, and experience the pleasures therein!

Fishing provides a perfect setting for fun and togetherness with family and friends. It's amazing how fishing removes barriers between people and allows them to understand and enjoy each other. Fishing is an especially good way for parents to build a strong relationship with children.

Fishing is a good way to make friends. Anglers share a mutual bond and speak a universal language. When two fishermen meet for the first time, they have something in common to talk about.

Fishing is a good way to get back to nature. On the water, the pressures of modern life seem to drift away on the breeze. It's a great way to relax, to tune into the soul-soothing rhythms of the wind and waves.

Fishing offers suspense and excitement. There's great drama in watching a bobber disappear underwater, setting the hook, then battling the fish up to the bank or boat. When you catch a fish, you feel the excitement of a job well done. Fishing provides feelings of accomplishment and self-esteem as you learn the tricks of the sport and how to apply them successfully.

Fishing teaches patience. It teaches perseverance and how to work toward goals. Ponds, lakes and streams can be natural classrooms for some very important lessons in life. And last, fishing can be a source of nutritious, delicious-tasting food. There are few banquets as pleasing as fresh fish that you've caught, cleaned and cooked.

However, there is a warning that should be given regarding this sport! With all its benefits, fishing also carries certain liabilities. It'll hook you just like you plan to hook the fish. It'll cause you to crawl out of bed well before sunrise, travel long distances, burn enormous amounts of energy and even spend large sums of money, all for the chance of tricking a simple fish into biting a bait. For many, fishing is truly addictive.