About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine [Hardcover]

Robert J. Behnke PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

Trout Unlimited, the national cold-water conservation group with membership of more than 152,000, has featured Robert Behnke in its quarterly magazine, Trout, for more than twenty years. Professor of ichthyology at Colorado State University, Behnke is our nation’s pre-eminent authority on trout biology, as well as a conservationist and superb fisherman. Known as “The Trout Doctor,” Behnke writes about topics such as native species introductions, genetic markers, endangered species, improving habitats, angling tips, and improved conservation in the wake of the efforts of Trout Unlimited. Illustrated with full-color images throughout by world-renowned fish artist Joseph Tomelleri, this book is the collection of Behnke’s best columns and most meaningful insights about trout, the environment, and the future of fishing. The perfect gift for anglers everywhere.

Robert Behnke is professor emeritus at Colorado State University.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Colorado State professor of ichthyology Behnke brings scientific expertise, a sense of humor and a flair for drama to this collection of 43 essays previously published as his "About Trout" column in conservation organization Trout Unlimited's Trout magazine. Behnke considers the evolution, historic and current distribution, biological characteristics and defining physical traits of various species of trout and salmon-from the common brown trout and well-known Atlantic salmon to the rare Apache trout and the once-presumed extinct, now-endangered Alvord cutthroat trout. He zeroes in on why certain salmonid species are struggling to survive and what can be done (and usually isn't being done) to preserve the diversity of species. A conservationist and a fisherman, the author debates the scientific pros and cons of "catch-and-release only fishing," "wild trout management" versus hatchery-bread "catchable trout" and man-made "tailwater trout fisheries where trout never naturally occurred." Tomelleri's colorful illustrations underline the uniqueness of each type of trout and why the fish inspires such passion among those who protect and catch them. Illus.
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Review

"Shining from every page of this book is Behnke's love for these beautiful and complex works of evolution, his commitment to their conservation and recovery . . .

You will comprehend trout and salmon not just as lovely life forms and splendid quarry but as critical parts of complicated ecosystems. You will understand how they came about  . . and, most importantly, how we can recover them."

                        -- From the Forword by Ted Williams

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159921203X
• ISBN-13: 978-1599212036
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tribute to Trout and Charr, November 3, 2008

By 

Donald J. Kurth "Don Kurth" (Rancho Cucamonga, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine (Hardcover)

In prose as crystal clear as a trout stream, Robert Behnke explains the subtleties of trout and charr variation that have perplexed me for decades. Why do fish that are called by the same name differ so much from one part of the country to another? Sometimes, they even differ from one brook, stream, or river to another! And, what happened to the really big fish we have all heard the "old timers" talk about? Are these tales just fish stories or did those big fish really exist? And, if they did, what happened to them? Where are those big fish today?

Dr. Behnke answers all these questions and more. He also puts fish ecology and wildlife management into perspective. So what if we catch all the fish in a river--we can always stock more, can't we? Surely, we can. But, Behnke explains the price we may all have to pay for an attitude like that. He does not just bemoan the loss of days gone by, however. His book is peppered both with examples of native trout recovery and with suggestions for a more sensible fisheries management philosophy for the future.

Above all else, however, this is a book about trout by an angler who has spent his entire life learning everything he can about them. And now, after dedicating his professional career as a researcher and a scientist to studying these fascinating fish, he wants to share his knowledge with all of us.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About Trout, January 29, 2008

By 

G. James - See all my reviews
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This review is from: About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine (Hardcover)

The book entitled About Trout by Robert J. Behnke is very well-written and is a joy to read. The author has incredible knowledge of the many species of trout and salmon in the USA and other countries, and he obviously loves both the science and esthetics of his field. Each essay--there are about forty--on a particular species of fish is accompanied by a beautiful illustration in color. One example tells about the Greenback Cutthroat trout, reasons for its decline, and successful efforts to reverse its slide toward extinction. This is an excellent book to own or to give as a gift.About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars trout, February 15, 2008

By 

G. Larson "killi man" (ALEXANDRIA, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine (Hardcover)

Great text, excellent illustrations. If you are interested in trout or coldwater fish this book is for you.