Take a Page Out of These Favorite Fishing Titles
As the age of print readership declines and the new age of digital media takes off like a rocket ship, we find far less folks taking the time out of their busy lives to cozy up with a good book. Despite the decline, there are many great reads out there specifically dedicated to the fishing folk whose goal each fishing season is the pursuit of the mighty musky. It’s in the support of those who still enjoy a good read that we list off 6 favorite musky titles that should never leave your cabin. These reads are becoming far more difficult to get your hands on, but you definitely won’t regret it if you find some copies online. Musky fishing adventures, tactics, and lore are a huge part of freshwater fishing culture and we hope you can get your hands on these print favorites.
A more modern approach to musky fishing can be found in, Hunting Musky with A Fly, from Rick Kustich. This is a great read for the more modern tactics of fly fishing. The book grabs its readers with tactics presented from real guides and fisherman who have day to day experience on the water. It is a great read for full-on fly-fishing school and can help newcomers get a great introduction to the sport.
Another oldie but a classic, Secrets of a Muskie Guide by Tony Rizzo, can likely be found by searching the antique shelves, but this musky fishing title is a must-have. Rizzo was one of the first competitive fishing guides to pen his technics and tactics down on paper while other guides were protecting information at all costs. Rizzo gives readers a glimpse into the life of a guide and passes on a great deal of on-the-job lessons to anyone willing the turn the pages.
Half a Million Muskie-Catching Fish Facts by George Sandell, is a great cabin read for those who like to see the numbers and stories to go with them. Sandell takes the time to delve into the drove of Muskies Inc records to put together a fun compilation of the catches many are interested in learning about. There is a ton of information in this book, not unlike The Guinness Book, but for fishing. Even though it’s a bit dated now, it still holds a ton of fevered facts.
If you are looking for serious fishing science, look no further than, Musky Strategy by Tom Gelb. Gelb shares his outside the box strategies on how to fish with a more scientific/natural guide to the sport. Gelb, a top Wisconsin musky angler in his day, was also an engineer who spend much of his time thinking critically about how the natural world around muskies affected their activities and the sport in general. For a fellow critical mind, this is a great take on tactics and fishing with knowledge from the other end of the spectrum.
If it’s general information and family friendly entertainment that drives you, Musky Country: The book of North America’s Premier Gamefish from Willow Creek Press, might make a perfect addition to your cozy summer cabin. This book is made for coffee tables and casual consumption. Musky Country is filled with great illustrations and images of muskies in their habitat, as well as plenty of textbook information about the fish and their environment.
Lastly, a good relaxing read with a bit of humor, Muskie Tales by Bob Jennings. Jennings began Muskie Tales as a humorous take for Muskie Inc. Musky Magazine. These articles provided readers with a look at musky camp life with a good-natured twist. The column as eventually put together in book form for all to enjoy the follies of fishing as told by Jennings based on real life events. This book is a great read on a gloomy day to let us know we aren’t alone out here in the pursuit of muskies!
There are many other reads out there that make each angler’s cabin list, but these are just a few that touch on various parts of musky fishing that can entertain all types of readers. From serious reading on tactics, to humor, to a look back on a life of fishing, each great work will provide hours of entertainment when you want wind down and let another angler do the work while you consume a little light reading.