For those of you who have never fished, you will find enough in this book to get you started. You don't have to learn everything all at once. If you are already an angler, there are plenty of tips and techniques that you can turn to right away without going through the basics all over again. And you master anglers will also find this book a handy reference for all kinds of fishing questions.

Once you have a few basic pointers, fishing is as easy as falling off a log (which is something you want to avoid, as the splash will scare the fish). Fishing For Dummies will show you how to orchestrate all of your equipment into a fine-tuned fish-catching machine. You'll soon know all about

Note: A great feature of this book is its list of websites and books in the appendix. I found these lists to be very useful tools in continuing my research of the great outdoors.


A Hundred Fishing Questions Answered   June 22, 1999
 25 out of 27 found this review helpful

This book isn't just for dummies--it's for everyone with any interest in fishing. The author really knows his stuff and shares everything in a fun, clear and comprehensive fashion. This book quickly answered a hundred little questions I've long had about fishing--but was a bit too shy to ask anyone for fear of sounding a bit like a dummie. No longer. I've now got THE book on fishing. Do not hesitate to buy it. It's terrific! (My congratulations and thanks to the author!)


Prefect book for someone who knows nothing about fishing   September 11, 1998
 23 out of 23 found this review helpful

I knew next to nothing about fishing, except that there's a lot to learn. This book covers all the basics very clearly, in a very organized way. I read it straight through, cover to cover, and now feel I have a good idea of what to do, what fish or conditions all the different baits and lures are for, how to to use them, how to tie them on, etc. etc. The book can also be used as a reference--you can skip around and pick up info on just the areas you're interested in. Definitely a good choice.


Only A Good Book for the Absolute Beginner--not a reference   February 3, 2006
 21 out of 24 found this review helpful

While I am usually quite pleased with the "for dummies" type of books because they are truly a "reference for the rest of us," this one does not deliver on the latter promise. While it is fun to read and easy to understand, I learned nothing from reading this and I am only a casual fisherman at best, going on what my dad taught me over 25 years ago when I was just a boy. I think if you had no idea what you were doing at all this might be a good "get started" book, but if you know what a rod and reel are and how they work, how hooks and lines are gauged and how to hook your bait, I don't think this book will teach you very much. It also introduces a lot of new things to the beginner (such as telling you what the basic types of lures are), but tells you nothing in terms of tips for catching fish any better with these items.

While the author enthusiastically peppers in "fish stories" about huge and numerous fish he has caught all over the world, it is interspersed with basic introductory information that gives no clue to the average fisherman of how he can ever accomplish the same things. In fact, most of us can't afford to go to exotic locales and pay fishing guides who take us out on boats that the author talks about so I have no idea why these stories are in there.

All in all, if you are absolutely clueless about fishing and have no one to ask or who will take you fishing this might be helpful, but otherwise I would recommend skipping it.