Whats's your favorite surfcasting for bass book?

Winters comin' and I need something to keep me from going crazeee.

check out "Striper" by john Cole.. not really about surf casting, but its some damn good writing. I just picked up "Fishing came first" by the same author-(non striper related) so far i would say it was the book that inspired david bendetto(sp?) to write "On the Run" (another good read)

daignault's books are ok too.

Bluefishing by Henry Lyman

There are several.

1st. Woolner-Lyman's 1954 Edition of "Striped Bass Fishing"
2nd. Ollie Rodman's (who created Saltwater Sportsman) "The Saltwater Fisherman's Favorite Four"
3rd. Van Campen Hielner's "The call of the Surf"
4th. Genio C. Scott's "Fishing in American Waters"
5th. Frank Daignault's "Twenty Years on the Cape"
6th. Capt' Phil Schwind's "Cape Cod Fisherman" ( This is the book I asked to be buried with me when I go to the big beach in the sky)
7th. Nick Kara's "Striped Bass"
8th. George W. Rieger's "Profiles in Saltwater Angling" (pay spcl. attention to the chapters on Rodman, Woolner and Rhinefelder)
9th. Robert Post's "Reading the Water"

And lastly I am reserving the 10th spot for Dennis Zambrotta's "The Snowstorm Blitz" after publishing.

READING THE WATER. Some of the best stories from back when there were large everywhere

Shining tides= very good, but fiction.

"On the Run" rocks! I like it because it incorporates numbers of truly different characters in different places. Also, its a "now" book, which appeals to me. Some of the "good old days" books get boring listening to people brag about their old exploits. The guy(Benedetto) is a freakin nut, but a very articulate author. Great read.

Reading the water is good too.

Shining tides= very good, but fiction.

"On the Run" rocks! I like it because it incorporates numbers of truly different characters in different places. Also, its a "now" book, which appeals to me. Some of the "good old days" books get boring listening to people brag about their old exploits. The guy(Benedetto) is a freakin nut, but a very articulate author. Great read.

Reading the water is good too.

It wouldn't be that boring if you had lived it. And if you take the time to read between the lines you can always learn something. Time tides and place are still the same, know what I mean?

I just picked up an original copy of "Striper" by John Cole! Planning on starting it after the rods get put away! Its on the coffee table right now! "Surfcasters Quest" by Roy Rowan is my favorite! They just re-issued it about a year ago and you can find it in most stores and on-line!!! "Striper Chronicles" by Leo N. Orsi Jr. is also a great read!!!:read:

It wouldn't be that boring if you had lived it. And if you take the time to read between the lines you can always learn something. Time tides and place are still the same, know what I mean?


I hear you, but I still like the "now" stories. Have plenty of good old days stories myself,and I did live it, but I always get the impression that people don't want to hear them.Like one of my fishing partners always says"these guys from the 70's are still running around with their freshman letterman's sweaters on,they need to get with the times". That said, I spend hours on the phone sometimes listening to Tony C. Truly fascinating stories, and like you said, some things are timeless.I was actually influenced by T.C. big time with regard to the "now" thing. His take is leave the 70's in the 70's, that was a long time ago. Would like to get him to write a book about it, though. Slightly off topic guys, sorry.

"To Catch A Bass" Tim Coleman...........

I thought to "Catch a Bass" was written by the "#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&" !

That was...."To Kill A Bass"!:jump:

as TC says.. "But,...What are you catching now?"

I do like hearing of the then, as well, and agree.. he needs to write that book. :uhuh:

Some others of mention include:
1/ Secrets of Surf Fishing at Night by William Muller
2/ Striper Surf by Frank Daignault
3/ Inshore Fly Fishing by Lou Tabory
4/ Stripers on the Fly by Lou Tabory
5/ Successful Striped Bass Fishing by Frank Moss
6/ Fishing New England: RI Shore Guide by Gene Bourque
(there are others for different locations)
7/ Fishing for Striped Bass by Gary Caputi
8/ Night Tides (story of Billy the Greek) by Michael Cinquemani
9/ Bait Tail Fishing by Al Reinfield (of Alou Eel fame)

"To Catch A Bass" Tim Coleman...........
"Bass from the Beach" Tim Coleman............

I'm intrigued by what Surfcasting Rhode Island Press has planned....:hihi:

My 20 yrs. as a Surf Caster,,,,even though alot of codders don't like Franky D for coming out with it .. I like the whole book but especially the begining . When they use to be able to drive 75 miles on the beach and there were no rules how long you could stay on . Then the raising the family, on the beach, all the kids chipping in, helping make a living fishing . They had so much freedom back then ,,,like America or something .. To me the book has a Last Frontier feel . Family feel . I'll have to re-read it .. Remember at the time, everyone pissed Frank gave away too much .. Now with the intterrnet the point is kinda mute..

Depends what you're looking for.

If you want a book to read by the fire with a smattering of "how-to" between the lines, Daignault's "20 Years on the Cape" and "Eastern Tides" are good, along with "Reading the Water" and John Hershey's "Blues". Or any of Phil Schwind's books.

For "how-to" stuff, Daignault's "Striper Surf" and Richard Reina's "Surf Fishing With the Experts" are good, along with William "Doc" Muller's works. Eric Burnley and C. Boyd Pfeiffer also have similar books. You'll get conflicting opinions on equipment choices, but the actual fishing stuff is pretty good.

Jack Fallon also had a nice book out some years ago--likely out of print, as are Vlad Everoff's books in all likelihood.

It's interesting to note that Van Campen Heilner was only in his early twenties when he wrote The Call Of The Surf. I wonder what kind of reception a young person would get today if he were to presume to know enough to write on the subject? You think that he would be welcomed with open arms by the surfcasting community or dismissed based upon the fact that he did not have 30 or 40 years experience?
But, alas - he was smart enough to write the first book of the genre. One of the advantages of being first at anything is that the critics have yet to emerge.
Robert Post is widely credited with writing Reading The Water - however the book is really a collection of first-person narratives. Dr. Post did write the preface and epilogue and some anecdotes that contribute greatly - and I'm quite sure he edited the essays, but in essence, other fishermen wrote that book.
Take note of how many of the great books are niether how-to nor where-to. How-To’s and Where-To’s are manuals – and really should not be compared to Striper, Twenty Years, Blues, Reading The Water, etc. They sell more, but they won’t win a National Book Award.
So with respect to that “other” type of book, gauchely referred to as “mood books” by the outdoor press, the skill sets are somewhat different than the manuals.
For books of a more literary nature, the author should have a passion for fishing and should be proficient with respect to his fishing skills, but what makes a great book is the not age or experience of the author but rather the soundness of his vision and his ability to coherently articulate a story and emotionally connect with readers.

on the run #1. i also really enjoyed surfcasters quest.

READING THE WATER. Some of the best stories from back when there were large everywhere

yup

"To Catch A Bass" Tim Coleman...........
Let me borrow that Bill.http://pro.imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/341897.gif

[/QUOTE=Joe]I wonder what kind of reception a young person would get today if he were to presume to know enough to write on the subject? You think that he would be welcomed with open arms by the surfcasting community or dismissed based upon the fact that he did not have 30 or 40 years experience?
[/QUOTE]

IMHO, it's so difficult to quantify skill when you release most of your fish that the only way many people judge a surfcaster is by years in the water.

I hope that people would judge the quality of the writing and the strength of the content, but I doubt it.

Anyway:
1) 20 Years - Daignault
2) Reading the Water - Post
3) Secrets of Surfcasting at Night - Bentsen (the best chapters)

I think that the Daignault books have alot more info then you get on your first read I have read most of his books over and over and every time I something clicks that I didn't catch the other times I read. anyone can go and ask him a question, you may get a smart ass answer but he approachable.

The other book I loved was Leo Orsi "Striper Chronicles" great stories from Jamestown and Block Island. And like Franks books loaded with info between the lines.

Another great read is "The Salt-Water Bible" by Erwin Bauer

I loved "A River Runs Through It" Not saltwater but a great read of old Montana life.

[QUOTE=Nebe]check out "Striper" by john Cole.. not really about surf casting, but its some damn good writing. I just picked up "Fishing came first" by the same author-(non striper related) so far i would say it was the book that inspired david bendetto(sp?) to write "On the Run" (another good read)
QUOTE]
Just finished it the other day. Great read but I got through it so fast that I thought the author could write another 400 pages on the subject. Seemed like a great story that had to end too fast. On The Run as well as Reading The Water are my favorites. My Reading The Water is falling apart I read it so much.

And lastly I am reserving the 10th spot for Dennis Zambrotta's "The Snowstorm Blitz" after publishing.

:read: :uhuh:

havent read that many but "reading the water" is filled with good information along with great stories, its all about marthas vineyard surfcasting

Actually, I think "Men's Lives" is my favorite S-B book

Actually, I think "Men's Lives" is my favorite S-B book

thats the one at the top of my list.....

striper by cole & "consider the eel" are the other two

Actually, I think "Men's Lives" is my favorite S-B book

I'll second this. Peter Matthiessen is a highly gifted writer (both fiction and nonfiction) and "Men's Lives" is an amazing account of the LI haul seining industry as it was squeezed away by "conservation/sport fishing" concerns. Easily the best book involving striped bass ever written (though not a "fishing book") and, if you think the fish pictures on this site are impressive, you should see the ones in this book.

Let me borrow that Bill.http://pro.imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/341897.gif

You can borrow mine if ya want and Bass from the Beach:read:

Did some more reading this winter and wanted to weigh in on this thread, sorry for the bump. I generally enjoy the memoir and travelogue approach to How-To's, but both are equally important.

A few of my favorites:

River Runs Through It - No, not surf casting, but one of the best books out there, let alone on fishing. The last line gives me goosebumps everytime I read it and then makes me want to start all over again.

Easter Tides - is a close second. Fun read and really brought me back to days on the Race and Nauset with my dad fishing when I was a little kid. (20 Years... was really good too, but I preferred ET).

Reading the Water - was the first surf book I bought and still is one of the best

On The Run - was well-written and was such an unforgettable adventure. Made me want to follow in the DiBenedetto's footsteps.

Blues - Hate the fish, but loved how the book dealt with a lot of the more abstract ideas of why fishing is such a great way of life.


As far as How-To's:

I think Striper Surf is the best.

And I think OTW Anthology is also very well done. One of the first fishing books I actually used a highlighter while reading.

I still like the Woolner and Lyman books as well, the Buggies section in Modern Saltwater Sports Fishing is fantastic to a youngster like me.

It wouldn't be that boring if you had lived it. And if you take the time to read between the lines you can always learn something. Time tides and place are still the same, know what I mean?what stupid said

All of the above are quite good. I just scanned this threat to see what my libarary was missing....I am in pretty good shape the only book I don't have is Capt' Phil Schwind's "Cape Cod Fisherman"....Hmmm, need to dig around for that one with a review like that!

I would recommend "The Surfcasters Quest". I really enjoyed that book and felt like I was walking around with the author fishing BI. Not a how-to but more of a why we do what we do kind of book but in the process takes you down an interesting path.

My 20 yrs. as a Surf Caster,,,,even though alot of codders don't like Franky D for coming out with it .. I like the whole book but especially the begining . When they use to be able to drive 75 miles on the beach and there were no rules how long you could stay on . Then the raising the family, on the beach, all the kids chipping in, helping make a living fishing . They had so much freedom back then ,,,like America or something .. To me the book has a Last Frontier feel . Family feel . I'll have to re-read it .. Remember at the time, everyone pissed Frank gave away too much .. Now with the intterrnet the point is kinda mute..

There's my quote of the month!

The best fishing books teach us about respect. And they do this by teaching us how to fish. The very best fishing books are about place and about character and less about the knots that we use to connect mono to braid.

would someone be willing to read me a couple of these books . I cant read ! never learned to properly read words silently . I seem to have to yell out each word just to get through one sentence . time consuming to say the least . Im going to go back to remedial reading soon .

I have had bobby post "reading the water" and nick karas " striped bass " read to me by my kids but my kids give me a rough time cause they think Im stupid cause I cant read correctly or quietly .

I can read you "reading the water" in Mandarin if you'd like.

Actually, I think "Men's Lives" is my favorite S-B book

This is on the top of my list as well. I go back to it in the middle of the winter often. Others on my shelf include:

Inshore Fly Fishing by Lou Taboury
Stripers and Streamers by Ray Bonderew
Night Tides, the Striper Fishing Legend of Billy the Greek
Hook Line and Sinker by Gary Soucie (great terminal tackle book, love it, great reading book as well.)
Through the Fish's Eye by Mark Sosin
What Fish See by Kageyama
McClane's Fishing Encyclopedia

" Striper Chronicles " Leo Orsi

Yeah "men's lives" is great. Try to get the first edition, which has the photographs in it.

"The longest silence" by Thomas McGuane is a fine book.
Same with "the fish's eye" by Ian Frazier.
"Practical light-tackle fishing" by Mark Sosin
Giant Bluefin by Whynott

I can read you "reading the water" in Mandarin if you'd like.


I dont eat oranges sorry

I would recommend "The Surfcasters Quest". I really enjoyed that book and felt like I was walking around with the author fishing BI. Not a how-to but more of a why we do what we do kind of book but in the process takes you down an interesting path.[/QUOTE]


"Surfcaster's Quest" is my favorite. I have run into the author, Roy Rowan at Finn's and other places on BI. In the book he talks a lot about the zen of surfcasting.

I did not like "Striper Chronicles" at all.

Ditto on Men's Lives and two books I always pick up at yard sales, to give to friends, that folks should read once in their lifetime are the Snow Leopard and At Play in the Fields of the Lord (Peter Matthiessen). Good to broaden those horizons...

I did not like "Striper Chronicles" at all.

I'll second that.
A friend got me a signed copy.
(It Should have been entitled 'yuppy surfcasting on BI)

Chuckg--I'm reading snow leopard right now. OM!

Reading the Water, by Bob Post.

Love the dune monsters.................:shocked:

Poaching For Fun & Profit
50 Restaurants That Will Buy Your Catch - No Questions Asked

I'll second that.
A friend got me a signed copy.
(It Should have been entitled 'yuppy surfcasting on BI)


Completely agree.

Poaching For Fun & Profit
50 Restaurants That Will Buy Your Catch - No Questions Asked

:rotfl:

Completely agree.


Ditto

I wonder how many people bought an 11' white rod cuase of that swill.

Ditto

I wonder how many people bought an 11' white rod cuase of that swill.

Not to mention that mirrolure.

We, Bryan, Spence and I actually ran into that guy at the SW Point on the Block about 3 years ago, 2 days after Thanksgiving and, guess what? He was throwing the red headed mirror lure. No lie!!!

20 Years is #1 for me. 1st book I read on the subject and opened my eyes about my own back yard. I grew up spending summers in N. Truro and never had any idea what was going on along the back beaches. We were on the bay side, and noone in my family knew the first thing about fishing....

Giant Bluefin was outstanding. Eastern Tides also very good.

Poaching For Fun & Profit
50 Restaurants That Will Buy Your Catch - No Questions Asked

That's the one for goosefish to read in Mandarin ;)

That's the one for goosefish to read in Mandarin ;)

I was gonna ask what languages it came in.

ich spreche nur ein bisschen deutsch aber nein apfelsinen

i would like to borrow:
Men's Lives and Reading the Water.

Anyone got one to loan?

If you liked Tim Coleman's To Catch A Bass then you'll probably like the one he's doing now for SRI Press...It's a shore manual with a focus on how-to for plugs, soft plastics, reading structure....
May-June release.

There are several.
...
6th. Capt' Phil Schwind's "Cape Cod Fisherman" ( This is the book I asked to be buried with me when I go to the big beach in the sky)
...
.


I must have been living in a cave for the last 35 years. For some reason I never heard of Phil Schwind until fairly recently. After seeing your post I searched around looking for some of his works...very interesting fellow. I found a 1st ed signed Hardcover of CCFisherman in a bookstore in Co of all places and have in now by my bedside (just started it last night). This looks great. Once I saw your above quote I said I have to read this. Thanks!

Poaching For Fun & Profit
50 Restaurants That Will Buy Your Catch - No Questions Asked


Dood... Hook me up with a copy....

For some reason I never heard of Phil Schwind until fairly recently. After seeing your post I searched around looking for some of his works...very interesting fellow.

One of his favorite sayings was "It's a Phil Schwind that blows no good".

My sister got me one of his books for Christmas several years ago--the one with the cover shot of him surf fishing with a black Harnell and a Surfmaster. Originally published back in the 60s I think.

Must say that of the books I've read that have been posted here, i wholeheartedly concur. Cain't really rank mine from one to ten as I've only read; "On the Run", "Reading the Water", "Striper Chronicles", and one other that has yet to be mentioned. What say you of Milt Rosko's "The Striped Bass Book"? Thought it was quite the primer, sort of a good how-to first read, if you will? BASIC, very basic. But the fundamentals are good to know and what we build our style from.

Will check out the others. Daignault's "Trophy Stripers" waz next on my list, but now youse guys got me thinkin' bout these other cats......like Schwind's "Cape Cod Fishermen", Coleman's "Bass from the Beach", "Men's Lives" and have already checked out "Surfcaster's Quest", and "Call of the Surf" ~those last two were at the top of me list. Of the above six choices, who wants to rank them from first to last?

Thanks gents for all thoughts and considerations!

I'll second that.
A friend got me a signed copy.
(It Should have been entitled 'yuppy surfcasting on BI)

HAHA so true

I def Like On The Run :wave:

I just read a book that had some real interesting parts, now if I could just remember what they were...
Successful Surf Fishing by Jerry Jansen
I want to read Bass from the Beach by Tim Coleman
To Catch a Bass is a boat book...
The Schwind book I read was really great reading.

It is interesting to read everyones thoughts, likes and dislikes.

Its been a while but I never liked Men's Lives all that much. What did you like about that book? I grew up out that way and know the area very well. My mother got me that book when it first came out and while the photos showed the history I found them painful to look at and to partly blame them for the damage to the fishery, in fact it could be used as evidence of the damaged they caused. I never felt sorry for baymen loosing their jobs either. I was a clam digger 10 years back then in its heyday, made a ton of cash then, in fact it partly put me thru college. I felt the purpose of that book was to make you feel sorry for those guys in some way for loosing there jobs and their grasp on the historical traditions, I could care less about their past, I am more worried about the future! My thinking was no body told them to do that job they shouldn't be upset when they are told they can't do it anymore. Same goes for comm fishing today... but I digress... I will have to read it again and see if I still feel that way, I have not touched it in many years.

I kind of like the chron's because I love BI and anything regarding surf fishing there will catch my interest but I couldn't take the constant mirror lure references either (they are not THAT good). Nobody fished with those things that I knew anyway. After his book came out I picked out is truck a few times...with all the mirror lure decals. whateverworks I guess.

I just got thru that "Blackfish" chapter in Capt. Phils book...jesus was a slaughter...and the waste was enourmous. (for those that didn't read the book they killed hundreds of whales for the mellon-sized sponge in their head which contained valuable oil, the rest of the 30-40' fish was left to rot on the beach.) I still hate to see that kind of "fishing".

20 years on the cape.

Perfect Storm was a good book, as opposed to the movie.

Double Whammy by Carl Hiassen is not by any means strictly fishin book but it is a riot.

Cod by Kurlansky :uhuh: very interesting.

One of his favorite sayings was "It's a Phil Schwind that blows no good".

My sister got me one of his books for Christmas several years ago--the one with the cover shot of him surf fishing with a black Harnell and a Surfmaster. Originally published back in the 60s I think.

Mike that came out Originally in 72' and was reprinted with additions in 1989.

Double Whammy by Carl Hiassen is not by any means strictly fishin book but it is a riot.



Anything by Hiassen is pee-your-pants funny.

I used to get the strangest looks when I'd hit a hillarious passage when I rode the Long Island RR.

Flap, I must have the 89 reprint, then.

You know, the best book about Striper Fishing has yet to be written. There are so so many stories. The stories that won't be told far outnumber the ones that have. Some of you have visions of some of the biggest names in Striperdom that would be instantly deflated if the truth got out about some of them.

Alcoholism, drug abuse, lies, self inflated egos and ownership of falsely made reputations. Self appointed heroism without the actual act, cynicism, bullying, deceit, innuendo, embellishment all can be found in most. Mostly after contemplation they are sad really.

Some day I may write that expose' and someday I may not but uncovering the truth is something I strive for in our game and the truth most times is pretty ugly.

There are some books that if I knew then what I know now I would never have bought and was upset that someone could write a series of books on life as a caster/commercial to find that he was in fact putting himself in the place of others success or discovery as his own.

Bravado and sarcasm can often be a means of deflecting the truth about someones actual deficiencies while pointing out the same in others.

Sad, really sad.

*woof!*

i think new england stripers is an awsome book, just cause the info in there is up todate
I know im in it, But its really a good book :)

You know, the best book about Striper Fishing has yet to be written. There are so so many stories. The stories that won't be told far outnumber the ones that have. Some of you have visions of some of the biggest names in Striperdom that would be instantly deflated if the truth got out about some of them.

Alcoholism, drug abuse, lies, self inflated egos and ownership of falsely made reputations. Self appointed heroism without the actual act, cynicism, bullying, deceit, innuendo, embellishment all can be found in most. Mostly after contemplation they are sad really.

Some day I may write that expose' and someday I may not but uncovering the truth is something I strive for in our game and the truth most times is pretty ugly.

There are some books that if I knew then what I know now I would never have bought and was upset that someone could write a series of books on life as a caster/commercial to find that he was in fact putting himself in the place of others success or discovery as his own.

Bravado and sarcasm can often be a means of deflecting the truth about someones actual deficiencies while pointing out the same in others.

Sad, really sad.

I may start lying just so I can say I was in a book about surf fishing.