Freshwater Fishing: Bass, Trout, Walleye, Catfish, and More

By: Tom Carpenter
Publisher: Lerner Publications
Publication Date: August 2012
ISBN: 978-1467702195
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: November 2012

You don’t have to be an adult to fish and in fact, you don’t even have to have a license. If you like to have fun, battle with a “fighting, tugging fish,” and enjoy having a great meal, fishing may just be the perfect outdoor sport for you. There are many different places to fish, large and small. For example you can fish in large lakes such as “Lake Michigan or Lake Superior,” or you can choose to fish in a small creek or pond. Many people simply enjoy fishing to either catch them to eat or simply release them. People who catch freshwater fish for sport primarily go after “bass, sunfish, crappies, bluegill, catfish, walleye, pike and trout.” These are known as “game fish.”

Native Americans “created their fishing gear out of what was available in nature.” They caught their fish in traps, speared them, netted them, and even shot them with their bows and arrows. You’ll learn about how they fished and what materials they used to make their equipment. European settlers, who also fished for food, perfected their techniques in order to feed their growing population. Unfortunately, their presence caused water pollution. To this day, all of us have to “fish responsibly.” One part of the solution was the creation of “fish and game” agencies,” which help us encourage “the efficient and careful use of natural resources.”

There are several things everyone needs to know about, including young sports-minded people. They include the importance of obtaining a fishing license, becoming educated about open and closed seasons, size limits, bag limits, and special rules for their locales. Most people do know where they want to fish, but may need to know what kind of gear they need. This book talks about many of those things from hooks to lines and sinkers. There are also safety issues to think about and that life jacket just could be a lifesaver. You’ll also read about optimum fishing times, fishing techniques, you’ll learn how to set a hook, how to fight a fish, netting, caring for you catch, preparing them for eating, and you’ll be able to check out a “freshwater game fish guide.”

This is a fun, informative book about the ins and outs of freshwater fishing the young reader will enjoy. Freshwater fishing is a sport that young people enjoy. The overview is basic, yet the information on an assortment of fishing facts is a perfect introduction to the sport. The book has numerous photographs (both black and white and full-color), and a few diagrams, and informative sidebars. One diagram clearly shows how to tie “an improved clinch knot.” This is one in a series of six in the “Great Outdoors Sports Zone.” In the back of the book is an index, a glossary, and additional recommended book and website resources to explore. There are additional free downloadable resources on the publisher’s website.

Quill says: If you have a youngster who enjoys fishing, or wants to learn about the basics, this is an excellent introduction to the sport.