Carp Anglers Group
Modern Bank Fishing
by Mike Keyes
Click on the cover to visit a sample of Modern Bank Fishing
Click on the cover to visit a sample of Modern Bank Fishing
Carp Fever This is the book on the subject of carp fishing according to EuroTackle (who sell it) and, indeed it is a good book. What you get is a primer on the English style of carp fishing, written mostly in English so it may have to be translated for North Americans. The ideas are good for this continent, and most readers swear by the book. Can be obtained from EuroTackle.
From "Gone Fishin' with Carp" author Manny Luftglass and outdoor writer Joe Perrone, Jr. comes "Gone Fishin' with Kids,..." an equally easy, light hearted, humorous and informative must-read for any mom, dad or grandparent that is thinking about or is in the position of taking their or other kids fishing. There are well documented benefits teaching kids how to fish including keeping them out of trouble, parental bonding and self esteem building as well as ensuring that oft-attacked recreational fishing survives into the next millenium. Of particular benefit to carp anglers is the opportunity to mold a new perspective of carp as a gamefish for the next generation of anglers. Lets face it, changing many anglers minds is like beating your head against a brick wall, but with kids you start with a blank slate and a more open mind. This handy guide provides the answers to a number of daunting questions and circumstances, most important of which is how to create an enjoyable experience for everyone and maintain sound mental health. Successfully fishing with youngsters and bridging the generation gap is not rocket science but its surprisingly easy to screw up, resulting in flared tempers and a kid that's likely to never pick up rod for the rest of their life.
The keywords that the authors drive home throughout is "have fun" and "keep it simple". Fishing with kids requires a different approach and perspective than the fishing style you may be more accustom and if you take a kid fishing understand from the start that you are going to be angling at their pace, not yours. Manny and Joe start things off by examining the why's and when's of kids coming of fishing age and their abilities, limitations, behaviors and expectations. Once the reader has both of their oars in the water, its off to specific chapters on where to fish, types of places to go, what to fish for, some how-to tackle and fishing basics, that first day out, and the Golden Rule section on basic do's and don'ts (ie. do understand limited attention spans and prepare for stop and start fishing; do explain that its okay to loose a fish off the hook and size doesn't matter; don't bring beer on the trip...save that for after the trip; don't berate kids for tangling the line, casting bad or loosing a fish, etc). Of particular interest are sections on touchy and sensitive subjects such as dealing with squirmy or icky baits, using live baits and keeping and killing your catch. The suggestions put forth to handle these situations respect the feelings of the child and are common sense and well thought out. Rounding out the book are chapters on ice fishing as well as specific cases such as advice for grandparents and fishing with women (and girls). Humorous anecdotes and personal experiences, both good and bad, by the authors are peppered throughout the chapters adding a personal touch and allowing the reader to learn from their mistakes and successes.
All told, "Gone Fishin' with Kids..." at $9.99 is the bargain of a lifetime...or maybe two or three if you follow the teachings of Manny and Joe. They won't show you how to catch more and bigger fish, but they will make you a better fisherman because if you do it right you will always have a fishing buddy. Take a kid fishing.
*Reviewer Patrick Kelly (Baltimore regional CAG contact; Maryland USA) and 10 yr old son Stephen are a successful father and son carp angling team commonly found on the waters of Maryland.