A Collection of Fishing Stories from Across the Globe, by a Master Storyteller. To the uninitiated, it might be somewhat surprising to discover that fly fishermen tend to be rather contemplative sorts. During those dark nights and long seasons when fishing is not a promising endeavor, we settle down to the next best thing, reading our vast libraries of ancient fishing lore, interspersed with the odd philosophical tome. And when we do, we usually don’t want to read proverbial stories about “landing the big one,” or lengthy how-to expositions on how to catch the aforementioned big one. Rather, we tend to prefer stories that place our beloved piscatorial pastime within the larger context of life and nature. Stories that, as Hamza describes, “…sparks a light. A light that is both familiar and comforting.” Such is The Zen of Home Water, the latest angling book by Jerry Hamza. Hamza is a John Volker for the new millennium. His book is interspersed with stories about monster brook trout, beautiful North woods streams and lakes, quirky backwoods guides, and legendary fly hatches. Through it all, he shows us one of the most profound truths of life, that “It takes the acquisition of wisdom to understand that a happy life is actually a mosaic of small and insignificant events…we string together moments in life—like pearls becoming a beautiful necklace.” The iridescent pearls that Hamza strings together are many and include the importance of “freestyling”, that uncontrollable escape impulse that implores us to drop whatever we are doing and head to the stream, any stream, with fly rod in hand. Another recurring theme is the need to unplug from the modern, electronic world. He instructs us how to trespass (with bartered permission) and fish those waters that look so inviting yet so out of reach to the (usually) law abiding. His recipe for squirrel stew is not jealously guarded but freely shared. And his stories of catching giant brook trout in the Maine North Woods allow the reader, who usually can’t participate in such acts of angling greatness, to at least know that they are occurring to someone, somewhere. Hamza is a member of that peculiar subset of anglers, the bamboo rod aficionado. While acknowledging the cold, hard fact that bamboo rods are nothing more than conglomerations of “expensive blades of grass,” he also realizes that these handmade treasures passed down to us from previous generations will hopefully outlive us (and our car doors) and that we are merely their caretakers for a time. Although the dreaded “g” word (i.e., graphite) does make a brief appearance, Hamza is definitely one of those anglers who would rather hold an aged, organic creation of the bamboo rod maker’s art than the latest admittedly efficient chemical concoction straight from the laboratory. This puts him squarely in the tradition of John Gierach, although Hamza’s writing is better and his stories more entertaining. Hamza’s own home waters are dual--Maine’s Grand Lake Stream area and the southern shore of the Lake Ontario region. There are echoes of Thoreau’s Maine Woods in his stories of remote lakes and plentiful trout. And while he takes us all around the country when relating his angling exploits (Kerouac’s On the Road is a particular favorite of his), it is evident that the concept of “home water” carries a lot of weight with him. His beloved “Zen Lake”, with its less than perfect history and many small fish, could be the home water of any of us.
Come along with me as I take a drift down a cascading coastal river or float tube a quiet beaver pond in a forested glade on the sides of a dormant volcano. It is hard not to be moved by the richness and beauty as I ply the various waters in search of a variety of aquatic and marine animals. I will delve into some of the nuances of my first and most favorite method of fishing using flies tied by myself and a few others. The many outings have served as a source of inspiration and amazement as I have witnessed everything from massive migrations of salmon to something as beautiful and delicate as the construction of a caddis fly. Let your imagination kick in, relax, and enjoy the words and images as I bring forth a world of enjoyment and learning.
It's Raining Frogs and Fishes is a generously illustrated inquiry into wonders of the sky: Why is the sky blue? Where do meteors originate? What causes rainbows, mirages, and the colors of the sunset? Why do some birds and insects migrate, and how do they navigate over hundreds or thousands of miles to do it? How have civilizations throughout history viewed the aurora borealis, tornadoes, eclipses, and the bizarre but well documented cases of fish, reptiles, snails, and even snakes that have rained to earth? Author Jerry Dennis and illustrator Glenn Wolff approach such questions with curiosity and wit, and suggest ways to observe first-hand extraordinary weather, astronomical anomalies, and odd and interesting wildlife of the skies. This updated edition of the national bestseller is a spellbinding look into the natural world's most fascinating and baffling phenomena, with illustrated explanations of rainbows, meteors, sunsets, hurricanes, the northern lights, bird and insect flight, and dozens of other curiosities. Subjects are arranged by season, and each is discussed in a concise and entertaining style that blends the most recent scientific findings with historical anecdotes, personal observations, and examples of the lore and superstitions that have always surrounded phenomena of the skies. PRAISE: “Amusing and illuminating…This writer-artist team shines a bright and lovely light on nature.” —Los Angeles Times “Charming, informative, humorous, and scholarly… embraces wind and weather, the sun, the moon and stars, the seasons of the year and the effect of these things on the denizens of this planet. It is a delight.” —Nelson Bryant, columnist for The New York Times "Vastly entertaining, valuable... Makes natural history so much fun the reader is sucked from paragraph to paragraph, page to page, chapter to chapter.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch "This delightful look at nature...is a cornucopia of fact and lore. Wit, humor, wonder, and reverence spice and season the vignettes herein. It's Raining Frogs and Fishes reminds adults — especially in this hectic, fast-paced, just-do-it world — that it is more than OK, it is desirable, to be child-like and to look up at the heavens and ask why." —Toledo Blade
Terrestrials, a broad category of potential fish food ranging from land-dwelling insects to mice, are one of the most important food sources for trout around the world. Whether you tie or buy your flies, this collection of cutting-edge advice from experts around the world will help you catch more fish. • First comprehensive book of contemporary terrestrial patterns--grasshoppers, crickets, ants, beetles, and more • Over 600 patterns and recipes from around the world • Tying steps for 15 essential pattern styles plus fishing techniques, tips, and tricks from experts on rivers and still waters • Stunning photos and detailed illustrations
If you have ever dreamed about fly-fishing in exotic corners of the world, this is the book for you. The author has caught and released fish in thirty countries and shares his stories with you. He has been fishing, mostly fly-fishing, for over seventy years. You’ll enjoy his descriptions of the countries he’s visited and fished. Go on the magnificent journey with him.
Come take a swim with freshwater creatures from around the world! Meet a fish that has no eyes and one that has four of them. Get to know an eel that carries enough electricity to light up a light bulb and a glacier-dwelling worm with blood that works like antifreeze. Jerry Pallotta has done it again! The acclaimed alphabet-book author has joined forces with illustrator David Biedrzycki to create an exquisite and informative introduction to freshwater dwellers.
Terrestrials, a broad category of potential fish food ranging from land-dwelling insects to mice, are one of the most important food sources for trout around the world. Whether you tie or buy your flies, this collection of cutting-edge advice from experts around the world will help you catch more fish. First comprehensive book of contemporary terrestrial patterns--grasshoppers, crickets, ants, beetles, and more Over 600 patterns and recipes from around the world Tying steps for 15 essential pattern styles plus fishing techniques, tips, and tricks from experts on rivers and stillwaters Stunning photos and detailed illustrations
Something Stinks was written as a parody on Life. This book took almost 4 decades to complete and was conceived when I was a kid growing up in NYC. As a New Yorker, mass transit is as much a part of life as toilet paper. If you've ever rode the subway you would know that the smells are sometimes to die for. These horrible smells forged the inspiration for Something Stinks. What makes the book so fascinating is that it is pure innocence and funny at the same time. It makes the reader smile, think and reflect back in time as how each and every one of us was at some time caught in flatulent situations. These flatulent encounters affected how we treated others and how those situations affected our development as we grew up. Something Stinks is the ultimate table top reader while at the same times suitable for the bathroom. Can you imagine that - a piece of literature that fits into your living room and bathroom at the same time. Wow! The book though not political takes on air pollution and smells from syngas generated by flatulation. The book makes a joke of gas while we all understand the importance of the subject. Something Stinks is a book for everyone because we all do it. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did in writing it. I wish you all a great day with horrible smells. Just a side note; take a moment to breathe in the air and ask: Is it you or someone else?
Midges may be small, but in many streams and lakes around the world they are the most important year-round food source for trout. Rick Takahashi and Jerry Hubka team up to provide readers with the most comprehensive midge pattern and fishing techniques resource to date. Stunning photos and detailed illustrations show the life cycle of the naturals, fishing and rigging techniques for a wide range of waters, and over 1,000 midge patterns. Whether you tie or buy your flies, this collection of cutting-edge advice from experts around the world will help you catch more fish. First comprehensive book of contemporary midge patterns Over 1,000 midge patterns and recipes from around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada Tying steps for 15 essential pattern styles plus fishing techniques, tips, and tricks from experts on rivers and stillwaters
Learn your ABCs in this aquatic exploration of everything under the sea. Best-selling author Jerry Pallotta delivers a fun first concepts book that covers sea creatures from A to Z. From speckled cod to jellyfish to the shiny shells of scallops, readers will be introduced to over twenty-six species that live in the North Atlantic Ocean. Jerry Pallotta’s signature witty while scientifically accurate text paired with fun and detailed illustrations by Frank Mazzola Jr. make this a fun read aloud that kids and parents will be eager to dive into.
Learn your ABCs in this aquatic exploration of everything under the sea. Best-selling author Jerry Pallotta delivers a fun first concepts board book that covers sea creatures from A to Z. From speckled cod to jellyfish to the shiny shells of scallops, readers will be introduced to over twenty-six species that live in the North Atlantic Ocean. Jerry Pallotta’s signature witty while scientifically accurate text paired with fun and detailed illustrations by Frank Mazzola Jr. make this a fun read aloud that kids and parents will be eager to dive into.
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