The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

One I forgot is The Memoirs of a Maverick, also recommended.

There all recommended - dive in. Your bound to have a leaning - compelling title or no.

"Fishing for Beginners" has a rich vein of dry self-deprecating wit that makes it a joy to read. He suggests that you might as well chose a spot that you like, as you're going to be sat there for quite some time...

I have read all of his books I think. Even one on the motor car. He is a superb writer.

I was given "Fishing for beginners" about 1964 by my parents.It was my go to fishing book for years.Some very good advice along with,by todays standards,some very "iffy" advice eg "smoke a ciggy whilst waiting for the Pike to turn the bait".

I too had "Fishing for Beginners” as a parental gift around 1964 (marking the moment when they finally realised they had to give up their Plan A, to dissuade me from taking up fishing!).

The comments that it is a good, evocative book but does have some dodgy advice (by modern standards) sound absolutely right. From memory - which admittedly may be wrong - I think it was this book that contained the alarming comment that “I would rather lose half the fish I hook than have the fearful bother of carrying a landing net” !!

Despite that, I did like the book and am sorry I don’t still have it.

I could have been sure I had that book but I can't now find it. I have a few others from the same period.