Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

An area where you can discuss books about angling, classic tackle, angling literature, your favorite authors, old and new, and any upcoming books you see of interest and of course all the classics as well.

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Flykuni3
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'back in the day'

#21

Post by Flykuni3 »

norcal_1 wrote:Hemingway's son tells of fishing trips with his father and thereafter, most 1940's-60's
"He takes 280 pages to get himself to 30 years old, then a hasty 35 more to cover the remaining 33"
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I really liked this book, it contains some amazing tales of WW II, including an encounter with Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd in France, right where our uncle Pfc. Ted Fujioka was fighting.

norcal_1
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#22

Post by norcal_1 »

Some Western Fishing by W.W. Crosby (1926)

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Trout Culture: How Fly Fishing Forever Changed the Rocky Mountain West (2015) - bibliography covers a wide range of historic books

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Outwitting Trout with a Fly: Letters of a Western Angler (1929)
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Last edited by norcal_1 on 12/25/18 21:08, edited 4 times in total.

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reidrods
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#23

Post by reidrods »

Here's a few:

"The Tent Dwellers" by Albert Bigelow Paine, a fun read with great illustrations. 1908

"Incomplete Anglers" by John D. Robins. 1943 Canadian. Another fun read.

"No Life So Happy" by Edwin L. Peterson, 1940. Illustrated by W. J. Schaldach. Enchanting, almost mystical and surprisingly informative.

"Adirondack Fishing in the 1930's" by Vincent Engels. 1978. A lost Paradise

norcal_1
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#24

Post by norcal_1 »

Reidrods, Thx for the rec's, I just realized I have one of them and forgot about it
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reidrods
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#25

Post by reidrods »

Norcal 1, You're welcome. These books get a read every year.

Willis

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Fcs
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#26

Post by Fcs »

"Fisherman's Luck" and "Little Rivers" by Henry Van Dyke. Both published 1899 it seems and reprinted many times. Trout, Atlantic salmon and landlocks in Eastern US and Canada. Not how-to or where-to books but stories of days spent on the streams.

"Tricks thatTake Fish" by Harold Blaisdell 1954. I read this book cover to cover about 100 times when I was 10.
"Wherever the fish are, that's where we go."
Richard Wagner

sowa
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#27

Post by sowa »

This is one I really liked.

LIMESTONE LEGENDS - Papers and recollections of the Fly Fisher's Club of Harrisburg 1947-1997 by Norm Shires and Jim Gilford

One&Duns
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#28

Post by One&Duns »

The Vanishing Trout, by Charles Lose
published 1931, Altoona Pa

If you’re familiar with the mountains and the trout fishing in Central and North Central Pa, you might be interested in this book. The stories take place between the 1870’s and 1920’s.

It’s not as grim as the title sounds, although there are a handful of very important stories about deforestation, fires, tanneries, mining and overfishing (along with some innovative ideas to improve the fishing as well). On the whole though, the book is filled with stories about lots of different country characters and boys and old fishing sages (“the Old Angler”) and city visitors. There’s talk about flies and fly books and the cheap effective gear of the locals for both bait and fly casting. In fact, many of the stories discuss bait, particularly minnow fishing and fly fishing as interchangeable tactics - although, as an adult, the author sticks to his fly fishing.

There are lots of camping stories (one during a vicious storm) and you get an idea of old farm life and the efficiency of mountain men. And of course, rattle snakes are a continuous topic. There was a really cool story about a guy that spent weeks, depending on the season, out trapping and hunting, home tending to his garden or out searching for the wild (lucrative) Ginseng plant.

There are also lots of references to local areas and establishments; and, of course the rivers, streams, runs and minor tributaries (all with recognizable names) are discussed. Considering most of the travel that he describes is by horse and carriages (or sleighs), the author spent a lot of time throughout this large region. I believe by the time he published the book, the author had lost his sight in an accident.

mlarocco
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#29

Post by mlarocco »

Trout Fishing in the Catskills By Ed Van Put has chapters dedicated to fishing when that area was still considered the edge of wilderness. Example chapter names are The 1840's, The 1850's etc.. and goes up to the 1950's.

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Randyflycaster
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#30

Post by Randyflycaster »

Cutthroat Campfire Tales by John H. Monnett.

This book is about the history - what we have of it - of fly fishing in the west.

Randy

Maineiactoo
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#31

Post by Maineiactoo »

Thanks for this great thread. I just found, and ordered on Amazon, "A Fisherman's Guide to Maine." Can't wait until it gets here. Allow me to recommend "A Trout Fisherman's Bedside Book" by Macdougall.

connor
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#32

Post by connor »

Wow, can't wait to read it!
Most of the time I try redbet offer in May 2018. But right now I'm about to check out some other bets. Gotta see em now!

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Mahseer
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'back in the day'

#33

Post by Mahseer »

Flykuni3 wrote:
norcal_1 wrote:Hemingway's son tells of fishing trips with his father and thereafter, most 1940's-60's
"He takes 280 pages to get himself to 30 years old, then a hasty 35 more to cover the remaining 33"
Image
I really liked this book, it contains some amazing tales of WW II, including an encounter with Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd in France, right where our uncle Pfc. Ted Fujioka was fighting.
And he parachuted behind enemy lines into occupied France - with a fly rod. Now that is a committed angler!

Reelmusic365
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#34

Post by Reelmusic365 »

Love this post! Here are three books to add...all about the Catskill's history and how the Dettes, Darbes, and Rube Cross provided major impact on fly fishing in America.

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In addition to these books, I have a list of 38 books you can download for free because the copyrights have expired on them. The dates range from 1740 to 1922 and include many classics. I continue to add books as I find them. Some include multiple editions because they were updated through the years. The links can be found on my RiverKeeper Flies website - http://www.johnkreft.com/links-to-free- ... ing-books/
John
RiverKeeper Flies
www.johnkreft.com

Boo
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#35

Post by Boo »

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norcal_1
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#36

Post by norcal_1 »

Sid Eliason (former owner of Winston rod co w/Tom Morgan) - three books - wonderful stories in all, going back 50 yrs

Snake River Country
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Madison River Country
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Salt Water Country
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Last edited by norcal_1 on 12/19/18 13:52, edited 1 time in total.

bluesjay
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#37

Post by bluesjay »

Hi Guys, Seasons on the Au Sable by Rusty Gates:

http://flyanglersonline.com/features/journal/part44.php

Jay Edwards

Booman2
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#38

Post by Booman2 »

Norcal, you listed some truly great stuff! "I know Bill Schaadt" is one of them (I knew him) and Rivers of a Lost Coast is another. Jim Adams did some of the work on the latter and it is a masterpiece, IMO.
You listed a few others that I agree with, and it's always good to sit down with a glass of wine in the evening and read about the days when we had 1000+ steelhead in most of our west coast rivers.
Thanks.

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Hellmtflies
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#39

Post by Hellmtflies »

Yes! Outstanding post! Thank you!

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ibookje
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Re: Books @ what it was like 'Back in the Day' 1800's-1960's

#40

Post by ibookje »

A lot to read and to learn!

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