Pike: An In-Fisherman Handbook of Strategies

I really enjoyed reading this book, and learned a lot in the mean time. This book does an excellent job of first presenting the tendencies of northern pike, how bodies of water change during the year and how northern pike relate to the changes. From there it goes into specific techniques for catching fish during each time period. I think this book is a great place to start if your looking to get into pike fishing, and is also great for the seasoned angler looking for some new tricks, or a better understanding of the nature of northern pike.

Great review of pike history, fishing, cooking, cleaning, catching, biology, records, etc etc... A modern bible of pike fishing that (unlike most others) spans the diverse methods and charactersitics of North American AND European pike angling. A bit shy on the photographic front since it's all black and white, but the information is top-notch!

If it says IN Fisherman on it, Buy it! They produce some of the best books and videos on freshwater fishing. Period! Full of current, scientific, and practical advice on the species you are after. If you don't learn from this book, then you probably helped write it.

I have owned this book for quite some time and it is well weathered. I have often used it before a fishing trip to put a few odds in my favor, or after to try to see "where were those fish?". Other than that I have often flipped through it over the long cold winter, and dreamed of open water. As a life-long pike lover, I find in this book a true tribute to this wonderful gamefish that should be a staple of any angler's photo album. Lots of research and historical points here with old records of some true fish-stories. A must have!

I found that the book was generally very informative. I have fished northerns extensively with a great variation of methods. I have a few suggestions for the next book. I think that the book didn't pay enough attention to live bait fishing. I believe that live bait needs to be covered more. I was particularly glad to see the dead bait section and all of the rigs for using both live and dead bait. (I always thought that it was interesting how a pike would hit a chub long after it died.) A second thing that I believe would further enhance the completeness of the book is to inform the readers how to catch how to catch monster pike in the canadian north during the SUMMER and not just the spring. I have found that during this period fishing techniques differ greatly. Other than that I found the book to be an exellent resource and tool to use both as a beginner and an advanced fisherman.