Sports Fishing Books

 

Many years ago I had the great fortune to meet Robert H.Jones and his wife Vera.  He is the first writer I have ever met that did not use a tape recorder, or sit with a pencil and paper and copy down his information.  He simply came out fishing with us, went home and wrote masterpieces, obviously from memory.  The real bonus came when you read the article and realized he got it completely correct...the first time!  Whatever kind of fishing you enjoy, Bob has the book for you:

 

"Tangled Lines and Patched Waders" by Robert H.Jones.   1995  Publisher:  Horsdal & Schubart Publishers Ltd.

 

"A book full of humor, anecdotes and short stories all concerning sports fishing.  It is well written by an avid sports fisherman and probably all the stories relate to true stories!"  Do fishermen ever lie????  Ian Andersen/Silver Fox

 

"Island Fly Fisherman" :  Edited by Robert H.Jones and Larry E.Stefanyk   2006.  Publisher:  Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.

 

" A great book explaining the how, when and where of the fine art of fly fishing on Vancouver Island.  In addition to the usual articles on fresh water fly fishing it contains some very interesting pictures and stories of fly fishing on the ocean."  Anyone who would like to try their hand at fly fishing in the salt chuck has to buy this book!" Ian Andersen/Silver Fox

 

"Island Halibut Fisherman"  by Robert H. Jones & Larry E. Stefanyk.   2007  Publisher:  Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.

 

"The most complete book I have ever seen concerning sports fishing for halibut."  Great tips on how to make lures, make them work and catch these brutes.  More information on how to handle them after you get a hook-up and how to clean and care for them.   A real A to Z book and every fisherman and fishing guide should have a copy. "  Ian Andersen/Silver Fox

 

"Warped Rods and Squeaky Reels" by Robert H. Jones 1997 Horsdal & Schubart.

More of the same that is found in Tangled Lines and Patched Waders.

"Fly Fishing Canada "- From Coast to Coast to Coast by editor/co-author Robert H. Jones 2001 Johnson Gorman Publishing.

From Newfoundland and Labrador to Vancouver Island and throughout the NWT and Yukon. Written by 34 of Canada’s best-known outdoor writers and photographers. Available at www.flyfishingcanada.net

Essential Guide to Fly Fishing in BC by editor/co-author Robert H. Jones 2002 Johnson Gorman Publishing.

Ten well-known fly fishermen contributed to this in-depth book that covers all aspects of fly fishing from tiny tarns in the Rocky Mountains to the open Pacific Ocean.

"A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns" by editor/co-author Robert H. Jones 2006 FFC Publications.

The most comprehensive book ever published about fly patterns that have been developed by Canadian fly tiers. Over 1,600 patterns contributed by hundreds of tiers from throughout Canada. Available at www.flyfishingcanada.net

 

Great Commercial Fishing Stories 

 

There are dozens of books that have been published about the commercial fishing  industry on the west coast.  The following are my favorites as they relate to the area surrounding Port Hardy where I have spent most of my sea life.   They are stories mainly involved with trolling which is my favorite way of fishing. 
They will give the reader a glimpse on how life was "in the 60-70-80's" on Northern Vancouver Island if you were involved in the commercial fishery.

 

"Fishing With John"   by Edith Iglauer  First Publication: 1988  Harbour Publishing Ltd. 

 

 This book is about a great man:  John Daly who owned the troller "More Kelp".   He was different. ( Most trollers were!)  Edith gives a woman's point of view of how it was to be a deckhand and wife of a salmon troller.  Each page will give you an insite of life aboard a small fishing boat.  All the characters in this book are real, and her writings bring them back to life every time I read this great collection of salt chuck stories.  Every few years I re read this book and get a little more out of it.     An extremely popular book, in its third printing and now they have made a movie based on it....  A must read if you want to learn about commercial trolling in the hey day of the fishery.  Ian Andersen/Silver Fox    

 

"Heart of the Raincoast"   by Alexandra Morton and Billy Proctor. 1998  Horsdal and Schubert Publishers Ltd.

 

If you want another slant on commercial fishing that starts with the humble beginnings of a great guy who has made the Broughton Archipelago his home - this is the first  book on Billy Proctor's life as a handlogger, homesteader, commercial fisherman, trapper and now a writer.  History is never boring with story tellers like Billy Proctor.  If you don't get a chance to cruise up to the Proctor Museum  near Echo Bay sometime soon I suggest you buy this book and his second book "Full Moon Flood Tide".  Between them you might get an idea of not only " how it was"  but  "how it is".  Ian Andersen/ Silver Fox

 

"Full Moon Flood Tide"   by Bill Proctor and Yvonne Maximchuk.  2003  Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd. 

 

"This is a continuation of more great stories by Billy Proctor.  Sometimes when history is rehashed the second time it is not as good as the first time you hear it.... but somehow Yvonne managed to sharpen the images and recollections of  Billy's adventures in commercial fishing and many other pursuits.  One has to remember that in the days gone by on the North Island, you generally had about three occupations in order to make a living and Bill Proctor's life was no exception to the rule.  If you are planning to cruise in the Broughton Archipelago, near Port Hardy, take this book along with you!"  Ian Andersen/Silver Fox

 

"Dead Fish and Fat Cats"   by Eric Wickham.  2002  Granville Publishing Co. Ltd.

 

" A well written book on the decline of the commercial fishing fleet by a commercial fisherman who has spent his entire life in the industry on the West Coast or Northern Vancouver Island area.  Eric lays most of the blame on the huge dragger fleet that have methodically raped the ocean floor and reduced the biomass in an alarming rate of time.  He also points out the Department of Fisheries and Oceans poor management policies in the past and how we should be looking to " sea ranching" like the Alaskans rather than fish farming as we are doing in B.C.   There is enough local flavor and humour in this book to keep you reading Eric's "message".  Another good read for those who still care about the fishing on our coast and its future."

Ian Andersen/Silver Fox