daverichey December 18th, 2007

TITLE: Nymphs: Volume II: Stoneflies, Caddisflies, & Other Important Insects
AUTHOR: Ernest G. Schwiebert
PUBLISHER: The Lyons Press, Guilford, CT

CONTACT:

The Lyons Press
Guilford, CT

WEBSITE: www.lyonspress.com
ISBN: 978-1-59221-098-8
PRICE: $60.00 hardcover and dust jacket

This is a huge, heavy book, and a revised and enlarged edition of the original edition of 1973. As great as the earlier edition was, the new printing makes this a much better book and a fitting tribute to the author who sadly passed away in 2005.

Schwiebert was a world traveler, a high-profile fly fisherman, public speaker, the author of several books including Matching The Hatch, which he authored in 1955 at age 24. It solidified his standing among fly fishermen from that day forward.

Make no mistake about it: Nymphs II is a monumental work, and will be a classic among fly tiers and fly fishermen, and a choice piece of fine work among armchair anglers who devour every word Schwiebert ever wrote. This book offers 787 pages of detailed studies on nymphs, and it is illustrated with 16 color plates of nymphs as well as b/w drawings.

He leads off with chapters such as Fishing The Large Western Stoneflies, Some Notes On The Larger Eastern Stoneflies, The Stoneflies Of Spring and Early Summer, The Caddisflies of Spring and Early Summer, The Principal Caddisflies of Midsummer, Imitating & Fishing The Caddisfly Larvae, and this is soon followed with chapters on various nymphs of different species.

The nymphs discussed in this huge fact-filled book belong to:

• Ephoron
• Potamanthus
• Ameletus
• Siphloplecton
• Leptophlebia
• Paraleptophlebia
• Baetiscidae
• Heptagenidae
• Rhithrogena
• Epeoorus

and many others

Ernest Schwiebert was a well known fly fisherman who really knew his craft. His books were filled with the stuff that make flyrodders drool: big bugs, tiny flies, fishing techniques, history of nymph fishermen, and much more. This is a must-have book for any fly fisherman who want to learn from the late master.

A trout fishing library without this book would be seriously flawed by its omission. It is, without doubt, the book by which other nymphing titles will be measured.

Tags: "ernest g. schwiebert", "ernie schwiebert", "lyons press", "scoops books", aquatic, Book Reviews, bugs, fly-fishing, insects, nymphs

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daverichey December 16th, 2007

TITLE: Ambushing Trophy Whitetails: Tactical Systems For Big-Buck Success
AUTHOR: John Trout, Jr.
PUBLISHER: The Lyons Press

CONTACT:

The Lyons Press
Guilford, CT

WEBSITE: www.lyonspress.com
ISBN: 1-59228-922-3
PRICE: $24.95; dust jacketed and hardbound book

John Trout is a savvy deer hunter. I’ve read his books and magazine articles for what seems to be 20+ years, and his copy rings with the truth of someone who has been there and has done what he writes about. Trout knows deer, and also knows how to hunt the bigger bucks.This is a great deal more than the usual rehashing of previously printed deer books. This presents to the reader a new formula that works. For instance, the author discusses issues that other book writers either ignore or don’t know about. Chapter 1, for example, is titled “Big Bucks, Big Bellies: Creating The Food Ambush.”

This chapter covers topics such as Understanding the food source, The oak phenomenon, Other isolated foods, Getting to and from isolated foods, and Agri-Handouts. Think about it for a moment, and food is one major requirement for growing big bucks. The others are genetics, lack of stress and time enough to grow.

Chapter 2 is The Rut: Before, During, And After. Chapter 5 is Reading rubs and scrapes: How to profile a big buck based on his sign, and how this influences the Ambush. The book contains 20 similar chapters of Trout’s hard-earned deer-hunting wisdom, and as with his earlier books, he again has hit the mark.

I honestly believe that any deer hunter can learn from this book. Read it, study it, and apply some of his tactics. The obvious secret is to use whatever may apply to your personal hunting areas, its habitat and the habits of local deer. If just one new trick works, it will make this book a winner for deer hunters.

Tags: "john trout, "lyons press", "scoops books", "whitetail deer", big-buck, buck, hunting, jr.", success, system, tactics, trophy

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daverichey December 14th, 2007

TITLE: A Compendium Of Muskie Angling History
AUTHOR: Larry Ramsell.
PUBLISHER: the author

CONTACT:

Larry Ramsell
10907 N. County Road S
Hayward, WI 54843

WEBSITE: LarryRamsell.com
eMAIL: Contact the author for detailed book information.
Price: $34.95 ea. + S/H see website for details
Checks or money orders should be made payable to Larry Ramsell

Ramsell, a muskie historian from Hayward, Wisc., wrote the first definitive history of muskie fishing in 1982, and the first printing of that book is now worth $500 on the used and rare-book market. providing one can be found. A second printing paperback book was published in 1997. This set of two books is a revised, updated and expanded third edition with a great deal of new information.

Some may wonder what a compendium is. It is something that gathers together and presents in concise or outline form all the essential facts and details of a subject. Ramsell has done exactly that with this book.

He covers the widest possible range of information on muskies and muskie fishing. The information contained in these two books is a major increase in information from the first or second editions. This 645-page Volume I (Volume II will be ready by the time you read this) is filled from cover to cover with the most amazing collection of muskie material ever pulled together.

I’ve fished with Ramsell, and he is more than a muskie historian and researcher. He is a muskie fisherman, and a very good one at that. The numbers of 40-pound fish he has caught and released is astronomical, and I’m happy to have put him on to one in the Upper Peninsula.

This and the second book in the set is filled with historically important b/w photos. Chapters include:

• His Chronological List of world -record muskies
• His chronological list of record muskies caught by month
• Establishing muskellunge history
• A revisionist history
• His thoughts on record keeping
• The World Records Part I: The Catch Stories
• The World Records Part II:The Controversies
• The Parting Line: Disclaimer and Conclusion
• An appendix and a note about the author

Perhaps Ramsell should have been a farmer because he is very good at digging up information. This book brings to light some key information on:

• Louis Spray
• Cal Johnson
• Art and Ruth Lawton
• Percy Haver
• and many other anglers

Whenever a big potential muskie has been caught in the past, it seems that many people do not believe it. And for good reason because numerous weights and lengths have been falsified over the years. But Ramsell, and his collaborator Brad Latvaitis of Michigan have pooled their talents in a new and information-filled new book.

This book is a must for any muskie fisherman, and that is especially true for those people who collect muskie titles. However, considering the rapid increase in value of Ramsell’s 1st hardcover edition, it’s possible this two-volume set will be of great interest to anglers and historians as well as a collector’s item that will increase in value over the years. This set is a winner!

Tags: "larry ramsell", "muskie fishing", "scoops books", "world records", angling, compendium, hayward, history, muskie, wisconsin

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daverichey December 12th, 2007

TITLE: Safari Guide 2007-2008
AUTHOR: Peter Flack
PUBLISHER: Safari Press

CONTACT:

Safari Press
15621 Chemical Lane, Building B
Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1506

WEBSITE:  Safari Press
eMail: Information

All Safari Press books are sold only through the company, and are not sold through regular booksellers. Paper wrappers. $75.

Peter Flack has become extremely well known for producing wonderful books on the African hunting experience. Others who combined forces with him to make this book the most informative title for anyone heading for Africa this year or next include Jack Atcheson, Jr., Craig Boddington, Peter Flack, Jack Jonas and Diana Rupp, to name just a few.

Many people, myself included, are filled with questions about Africa. You’ll find almost every question answered in this hefty paperback book. You’ll learn the rules, regulations and local customs of each country to allow you to properly prepare for the safari in grand style.

Some typical questions asked are:

• How do you import your firearms into Africa?
• What are the caliber restrictions for shooting a Tanzanian lion?
• What African game animals are protected in Botswana?
• Which animals can be legally hunted in each African country?
• How much should a hunter tip?
• What are the trophy fees in Zambia?

All these and thousands of other knotty questions are answered, which explains why anyone planning an Africa safari should purchase and study Safari Guide 2007-2008 before plunking down a substantial fee when booking a hunt.

This guide to hunting Africa covers safari hunting like a blanket. The counties covered in this book include:

• Benin
• Botswana
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Ethiopia
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

This go-to guide addresses each question for each country. Learn the hunting license fees or trophy fees. It will offer important firearm rules for the new African hunter. There is a detailed step-by-step what to expect for each country that takes the reader from their flight to Africa, through customs, to the safari hunting area and back to the airport. The subject of exporting hunting trophies is covered very well.

This book is current, crammed full of useful information, and any prospective hunter considering an African safari is strongly advised to buy, read and study this book before considering a hunt. It could save the hunter many thousands of dollars.

Tags: "african hunter", "big game", "book review", "peter fleck", "safari press", "scoops books", africa, customs, fee, guide, hunting, import, license, regulations, safari

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daverichey December 7th, 2007

Welcome to my weblog and website. If you enjoy award-winning writing and photography about fishing, hunting and natural resources management, this is the spot. Each story is illustrated by one or more color photos to increase your pleasure.

We are off on a new writing path. I’ve spent four years writing blogs, and 40 years writing outdoor copy. It is straight-forward, honest and informs and entertains. I cover many topics, but never write about non-consumptive outdoor pastimes.

My site has a daily blog, and once or twice a week, I’ll write a book review on topics of interest to Michigan and world-wide anglers and hunters. Within a month there will be a feature story about certain phases of the outdoors, and it too will be illustrated with color photos. On occasion there will be a feature by another outdoor writer on a topic I feel is important to my readers. Look for them soon!

Other items of interest will be added as time goes on. Some may be static items such as a table of insect hatches. Such things are of great interest to many fly fishermen.

I have made a living writing outdoor copy, and it comes from my heart. I cover topics that other outdoor writers seldom write, and recommend that readers check out my Sunday feature story in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Look for it in the sports section.

My copy always deals with timely topics of interest, and if it interests me, it should interest you when stories are written about bass, brook trout, brown trout, crappie, muskellunge, northern pike, perch, salmon, steelhead, walleye and whitefish fishing. Check out my bow, firearm and muzzleloader hunting stories on bear, caribou, deer, ducks, geese, elk, grouse, quail, rabbits, squirrels and woodcock.

Scoops Books is another feature that allows me to buy and sell fishing and hunting books. There are currently 400 plus fishing-hunting books for sale at fair prices. Visit Scoops Books and review some great book buys.

We rock daily with a timely blog and weekly with book reviews and other outdoor features. Climb aboard and let’s go fishing and hunting together. And don’t forget, you can contact me anytime at: dave@daverichey.com . I promise to respond as quickly as possible.

Be good to each other and enjoy the great outdoors.

Tags: "consumptive sport", "Traverse City Record-Eagle", dave richey, fishing, hunting, Michigan, outdoors, photography, writing

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