Book Reviews

Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout - Les Johnson

For many years I have been a fan of the Pacific North-west, over the years I got to fish many rivers in Washington State and Oregon, two of the nicest States in the Union. Not only for the quality of the fishing, but also the magnificent scenery and the wonderful friendly people. If you like jazz music, I suggest an evening in Portland Oregon and don't forget to visit Kaufmann's Tackle shop.

Some years ago when visiting Washington State, I was invited to join top fly fisher Les Johnson to fish for Coho salmon off Lincoln Park, which is actually in the city limits of Seattle. The flies we used were small sand lance imitations of Les Johnson's own design. It was an exciting morning sport, with Les being the perfect teacher. I think what impressed me most about the man was his casting and fish catching skills. During our morning session, he had a succession of chrome bright Coho's. I also learnt some good tips on fishing saltwater from Les. One was the use of a milk crate to give more height when casting. There was no problem to finding milk crate in the murky water, Les had attached a float to it in the form of a plastic bottle. Its an idea I have used often when bass fishing the English coastline. Lincoln Park is also excellent for coastal cutthroat's in the late summer through Thanksgiving Day.

During our time together we discussed our respective fishing experiences, and we both agreed what an exciting fish the cutthroat trout was, either in fresh or saltwater. I suppose I liken this fish to the seatrout. I well remember my first cutthroat from the Sol Duc River when I was fishing for summer steelhead. It was hooked on a small Teal Blue and Silver a typical English seatrout fly. After admiring this 15" fish I slipped it back to grow bigger. I continued fishing for steelhead thinking nothing more about the cutthroat trout . Three days later and I am invited to fish the Queets river for cutthroats.I used a five and not a seven weight outfit, that I had been using on the Sol Duc River. I ended the day with nine or ten fish averaging some 12 - 14" I was also invited to fish the Quinault river which flowed through Indian Territory where my native guide was one of the most exceptional men I had ever met, and a great character. I certainly enjoyed my time with this most knowledgeable person. Apart from being a first class guide, he was a member of a SWAT team,. Over lunch we spent our time discussing fishing, firearms and other subjects.

Early in the New Year Frank Amato Publications sent me a copy of Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout by Les Johnson. Having fished with the author as previously mentioned. My immediate thoughts were "I bet this is a good read". It was certainly easy reading, and between the covers it covered everything you need to know about this trout species. Flies, Techniques and Conservation are all covered. I will even be trying out some of the fly patterns on seatrout this season. Les must congratulated on covering the subject in depth. But most of all, for his chapters 4 through 8 covering the various waters of Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The last two chapters cover fly fishing in fresh and saltwater. The latter could well help those readers who fish saltwater for seatrout and bass. If your planning a visit to the west coast of the USA, British Columbia or Alaska then this book is one you should purchase. Read, then read again. It contains a wealth of information. I recommend Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout by Les Johnson Published by Frank Amato Publications ISBN 1-57188-333-9

Trout Fishing in the UK and Ireland - Lesley Crawford

Without doubt trout fishers are great travellers, always on the lookout for that special water. I am no different. This lady angler Lesley Crawford is a well established writer with several books to her credit. The lady, like me fishes the Limestone lochs of Caithness and Sutherland. There, the difference ends. Lesley lives in the area, while I have to drive several hundred miles. If your a trout fisher I can certainly recommend the limestone lochs.

This latest book from Lesley Crawford offers a rich diversity of trout fishing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This book is for the holiday angler to help him or her understand the trout fishing in the area where he or she is planning to stay. Its not a list of venues, but a look at stillwaters and rivers in general. Lesley writes about techniques and tactics to use on rivers and stillwater's. As one who fishes for seatrout in Wales, I compliment the lady on her description of fishing in the Principality. Its certainly a delightful fishing country. Llandysul A A waters on the river Teifi offer some excellent trout and seatrout fishing, with plenty of good holiday accommodation in the area. A book covering the United Kingdom and Irish trout waters, can only briefly describe the waters and the fishing. But for all this, Lesley Crawford has crammed a lot of information between the covers of Trout Fishing in the UK and Ireland Published by Swan Hill Press price £19-95 ISBN 1 904057 58 6

Salmon, Trout & Charr of the World - Rupert Watson

Rupert Watson's first book titled 'The Trout' - A Fisherman's Natural History by Swan Hill. was without doubt one of the best on the subject. I well remember getting a copy in the early 1990's, and finding it difficult to put the book down, it was such a good read. Certainly a great book for all trout fishers. I now feel privileged to have his second book Salmon, Trout & Charr of the World.

The salmon and trout species can be described as the life blood of the game fishing world, but the charr are the mystery fish. The Lake District is the home of charr in England, where on Windermere they still fish with gold lures. Apart from Windermere there are several other Lakeland waters containing this fish. In Sutherland Scotland you can catch charr on a fly during April, but once the water temperature rises, I find the fish go deep. I have encountered this delightful fish in Swedish Lapland and the Northwest Territories of Canada. Its a magnificent looking fish, the perfect quarry for the flyfisher.

Rupert Watson's book Salmon Trout & Charr of the World is a book that I can only described as the best I have read on the subject of our salmon, trout and charr species. Its not a how to catch them book, but one that looks at the natural history of the fish, and its location worldwide. Rupert explains the fishes origins, evolution, migratory instincts, diet, territories, breeding patterns and the management of these particular fish. He deals with the wider issues of commercial fishing industry, over-fishing and conservation methods. Its a book that anglers, river keepers and naturalists should have on their bookshelves.
I certainly recommend Salmon Trout & Charr of the World. A Fisherman's Natural History by Rupert Watson Published by Swan Hill ISBN 1 85310 888 X price £29-95