Pole Fishing – A Complete Guide

RRP: £ 16.99

Specification/Description
  • A comprehensive guide to pole fishing from beginner to advanced
  • Published by The Crowood Press in 2008
  • 160 pages
  • Over 170 full colour photographs
  • Numerous helpful line drawings
  • ISBN: 978 1 86126 988 1

Website: www.crowood.com

Publisher’s Overview

Interest in pole fishing began to increase substantially in the 1970s with the introduction of much longer carbon fibre poles, and since then its popularity has grown enormously both on stillwaters and latterly on rivers as well. However, it is on stillwaters that the use of poles has proved to be most popular, and pole anglers now clearly dominate the commercial fisheries. This is hardly surprising as most of these fisheries are stocked with carp in the 21b to 10lb range, fish that are undoubtedly best targeted by the pole angler. It is not that the rod and line methods do not work, rather just that pole fishing is ideally suited to the conditions that prevail at most commercial fisheries.

The first law of fishing is to find your fish; the second law is to present your bait in such a way that the fish do not know that it conceals a hook, which may well result in a trip to a landing net. Pole fishing offers the ultimate when it comes to the second law and that is why the pole is the first choice of most anglers who demand the ultimate in bait presentation.

This fascinating book, written by two experts, is essential reading for all those who are interested in pole fishing, whether they have no detailed knowledge of the subject and are considering taking up the sport for the first time, whether they have already gained a little experience of pole fishing, or even if they are more seasoned match anglers. There is something for anglers of all kinds in this book, although the authors never lose sight of the fact that most people are simple pleasure anglers who want to enjoy a successful day’s fishing. They discuss: how to choose a pole; how to set it up; baits and rigs; how to use the powerful margin pole for taking carp; how to deploy the more delicate long pole to catch the silver fish; as well as pole fishing techniques on all types of waters, including commercial fisheries, rivers, canals, drains, lakes and reservoirs.This invaluable book is brimming with information, advice and useful tips, and tells the reader everything he, or she, needs to know about pole fishing.

 

Verdict
 

Initial Impression
First glimpses were very positive with an excellent cover which includes a concise précis of the aims of the book.  The Contents Page lists the chapters in a logical way and enables the reader to easily refer to a relevant topic.  The images and line drawings are of a high quality and clearly enhance each chapter.

Main Review
The book is an excellent reference work for any angler of any experience who is considering pole fishing for the first time.  The more experienced pole angler will also find the book a valuable source of information.  I would expect most readers to return to its pages on a regular basis and use it as a reference point.

For the beginner, the book guides you through why and where pole fishing is most relevant and then onto which equipment is best suited to those situations.  It also describes actual fishing scenarios where the pole can be more effective than the traditional rod and line.  Importantly the book explains the basic differences encountered within the many aspects of pole fishing.  The reader can tailor this information to suit his/her own situation and requirements and make sensible decisions based on the opinions offered.

Simple but effective images and writing explain in detail the important steps in setting up a pole correctly.  This area is often overlooked and can prove troublesome for even the most experienced angler.

Detailed and informative sections on all aspects of terminal tackle, rigs and baits are especially useful for the relative newcomer.  Importantly, this information is presented in an easy to read manner and will give the reader an instant knowledge base that is relevant to actual scenarios.

Another factor is that the book also covers the plethora of accessories and ‘gadgets’ associated with pole fishing but allows the reader to form his/her own opinion of what is best suited to their own situation.

Summary
A well written and presented book. It will be especially useful to the newcomer to pole fishing and will become a frequently used point of reference.

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