Trout Fishing - by Ed Rychkun (Paperback)

About the Book

This straightforward fishing guide was written for the average fisherman. The focus is on tactics and a handful of secrets that keep fishing simple and enjoyable. These secrets are really a set of easy and logical processes that answer three basic questions: Where should I fish? What do I fish with? When do I fish?

From the Back Cover

This straightforward fishing guide was written for the average fisherman. The focus is on tactics and a handful of secrets that keep fishing simple and enjoyable. This straightforward fishing guide was written for the average fisherman. The focus is on tactics and a handful of secrets that keep fishing simple and enjoyable. These secrets are really a set of easy and logical processes that answer three basic questions: Where should I fish? What do I fish with? When do I fish? The key is in the relationship between trout and their changing ecology, and understanding how complex behavior is really a set of simple and predictable patterns. Ed looks at the basic physiology and instincts of fish and ends up with proven methods for catching fish. This well-written guide glows with an interesting mix of science, practical knowledge, and light humor. The on the water examples bring the methods to life. No other book so vividly related behavioral science to angling tactics.

Review Quotes

I lost my copy and am buying another. This book is as simple, yet logical, as it gets. Stop flogging the water. Be in the right place at the right time, everytime. After getting this book my biggest fish caught went from a 4 lb trout to a 20 lb trout, and I attribute a lot of it to the tactics that this book taught me. If you fish for trout buy this book because it will save you hundreds of hours and dollars in mediocre fishing trips. - M. Baca

Just finished reading this book. Maybe it's because I'm an engineer, but I loved Rychkun's logical approach to finding and catching fish. This book pulled all the generalities I'd heard together (fish on a slack tide, fish early in the morning, fish at creek mouths, fish deep when it's hot etc) into a practical method to attack the spot you are fishing. It backs up the method with the scientific reasoning for each strategy.
Without giving away too much of the book, most fish behaviour is driven by the following priorities:
- they need to find the correct temperature of water
- they need to find enough oxygen to breathe
- they need to find food
- they need to avoid predators and harsh elements
- they need to reproduce.
The theme of the book is that if you understand where in the water the fish are most likely to satisfy as many of the above needs, then this area will statistically have more fish, and hence statistically speaking you should catch more. It's not a guarantee - we all know there's no such thing in fishing - but I'm convinced it will increase your chances.
Overall a very informative and readable book. I didn't like the way the short 'On the Water' stories were written, as the dialogue in them seemed to be too technical to be 'verbal' - but this is a small point. I give a hearty recommendation for this book.
The book reminds me a little of a Ben Hogan quote when a reporter commented that he seemed to have more than his fair share of luck. Hogan replied "Funnily enough, the more I practice, the luckier I get". I'm hoping that after reading this book and applying the principles I'm a luckier angler.... -- Mark Miller