The Founding Fish
by John McPhee ; 2002; Hardcover; 368pp
In his latest, Pulitzer Prize winner McPhee shares his deep pleasure in shad fishing in spite of his modest catches, wittily complains about his most despised fishing competitor, shares his awe over champion shad-catchers, and profiles intrepid fish biologists he accompanies both in the lab and out in the field. But being a scholarly sort, he not only pursues shad with dart and pole but also stalks them in the annals of history in a far-reaching chronicle similar to Mark Kurlansky's popular Cod (1997). At the heart of this enlightening portrait of a fish that also won the admiration of Thomas Jefferson and Henry David Thoreau is McPhee's gleeful dissection of the belief that the humble shad--a migrating fish that once turned East Coast rivers turgid with spawning runs so enormous fishermen could drive them into nets like cattle into corrals--helped George Washington win the revolution by feeding his starving troops. McPhee is in great form here, as informative as always but also funny, unusually self-revealing, and quite passionate in his discussions of the dire effects dams have had on shad and rivers alike, and the troubling realization that catch-and-release fishing "may be cruelty masquerading as political correctness." Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
reviewed: "They're In the River!!!!, Finish-up those tax returns folks because they'll start passing Lambertville around 4/15. I heard about this book for a long time before I finally got around to reading it. I read it three times right away and still pick it up to read selected parts again and again. I am a sucker for natural history books and I also happen to be an enthusiastic shad fisherman. But this book also covers ecology and fascinating slices of American history... "
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Shad Fishing:
A Complete Guide Species, Gear, and Tactics
by C. Boyd Pfeiffer ; 2002; Paperback; 240pp
Since Pfeiffer wrote his first book on shad twenty-five years ago, much has happened to improve the fishery. The fish has made a comeback and shad fishing along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts continues to grow in popularity. Many fishermen launch the season by fishing in the early spring for shad. They've learned that shad make jolting strikes, long runs, hard fights, and high jumps. This complete guide covers the history and habits of shad and all the practical fishing on range, tackle for both fly fishing and spin fishing, and techniques for fishing on the shore and from a boat. This practical guide for taking this popular game fish on fly or lure is completely up-to- date and covers the latest developments in fishery and equipment. Includes patterns for 176 shad flies.
reviewed:"First Rate: The Seminal Shad Book Boyd continues his exemplary service to the angling community by exploring and promoting fascinating aspects of the sport. As a fellow shad fisherman, I'm indebted to Boyd for this reprise of his previous work, and furthering the appreciation for this fascinating fish."
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Experience the World of Shad Fishing
by Lenox Dick; 1996; Paperback; 45pp
Shad fishing is loads of fun and can often be fast and furious. In this book, Lenox Dick passes along plenty of tips and information to guarantee you success on your next shad fishing trip. This book covers; a history and biology of Shad, equipment, flies, darts, lures and how to make them, stream and bank fishing, fish finders, where to go, and more! Pound for pound few fish fight better than Shad, this book will help you catch more of them!
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