Fish On!: A Guide to Playing and Landing Big Fish on a Fly [Hardcover]

Floyd Franke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 2003

Many anglers successfully hook fish only to lose them after the hook pulls free or the line breaks. The fisherman's first concern is often placing the bait or fly where the fish are feeding, with little thought as to how to land a fish in the happy event that "the big one" is hooked. Fish On! outlines the general rules for playing fish, and investigates those variables, often overlooked, that have a direct impact upon your ability to play fish. Such variables include choice of equipment, the conditions under which you fish, and the particular species of fish you hope to catch. Although the book is directed at those who fish with a fly rod, spin fishermen and plug casters will find the same basic fish-playing principles apply.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When he was still a budding fisherman in the 1950s, Franke was taught that as long as he concentrated on "keeping the rod tip up, keeping the pressure on, and never allowing slack in the line," there was little more he needed to do to nab all the fish he wanted. But "playing" the fish is also a major component of the sport, and in this comprehensive, workmanlike guide, Franke sets out to correct the lack of educational emphasis on the subject. A member of the staff at the Joan and Lee Wulff School of Fly Fishing, Franke offers expert lessons on hooking and landing, fishing conditions, equipment, catch and release, "knowing your fish," and his three rules for playing big fish. B&w illustrations.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

The fish was a head-shaker, one of those powerful Roaring Fork rainbow trout, an neither of us was winning the fight. It is an extraordinary read, absolutely recommended for anyone who ever lost blew) a big fish or took too long to bring one in. (Ed Dentry Rocky Mountain News )

The book is chock full of good information for fly fisherman for both fresh and saltwater fishing. (Roger Aziz Eagle Tribune, Lawrence, Ma )

Interesting reading for the adventure angler, with valuable tips to prevent the loss of a fish of a lifetime. (Kentucky Herald Leader )

All of the methods are sound and will benefit any angler. Franke does a great job on an overlooked topic. It's a great addition to a fishing library. (Fly Fisherman )

This comprehensive, well-written book will be of great value to any angler who fishes with spinning, baitcasting or fly tackle. Franke's techniques go far beyond the basic trio fo standard fish-fighting advice. (Pete Barrett Fisherman )

Floyd Frank, a staff member of the famed Joan and Lee Wulff School of Fly Fishing since 1989 and an angler since long before that, claims to know things about playing a fish taht most fishermen don't. He just might at that. (Clolumbus Dispatch )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Derrydale Press (June 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586670700
• ISBN-13: 978-1586670702
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,314,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Floyd Franke's Fish On ! is Fantastic !, June 28, 2003

By 

Hugh McMillan (Salisbury, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fish On!: A Guide to Playing and Landing Big Fish on a Fly (Hardcover)

I have not yet finished reading this great book but I feel qualified to give it 5 stars. The reason is that I had the privilege of attending the Joan & Lee Wulff Fly Fishing School in early May. It was there that I met Floyd and experienced his considerable talents as a teacher. The last session of the school was on playing and landing fish. It was incredible. Many of the old fishing myths were debunked and ever since I have wished that I had taken notes of everything Floyd said. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a copy of this book yesterday in a local bookstore. Finally, all that unique information, and more, in a concise volume and I needn't feel guilty about my lack of note taking. I just wish that Floyd had told us that he had a book coming out on the subject.

There are hundreds of books on how to hook a fish, and I must admit to owning more than my share, but until Floyd wrote this book nobody told you exactly what to do after you set the hook. This book belongs in your library.

I would write more but I really want to get back to reading Fish On! !

As an aside, if the opportunity arises to attend Joan & Lee Wulff's Fly Fishing School it is an incredible experience and should not be missed. For nearly the last two months I have not stopped thinking of that memorable weekend.

-Hugh McMillan

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Floyd's Right On With Fish On!, December 28, 2003

By 

Elizabeth Shapiro - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fish On!: A Guide to Playing and Landing Big Fish on a Fly (Hardcover)

If you want to lower the ratio of fish hooked to fish landed, then Floyd Franke's book, Fish On! is just the book for you. How often have we heard a fly fisher recount his or her day on the stream with, "I hooked three and landed one." The listener usually responds, "well they all count," in what has become an acceptable rationalization for not bringing a fish to net. Franke carefuly lays out the methods for changing this scenario.

The author ventures in depth into how to actually play the fish--the physical as well as the psychological "warfare" to employ in landing large fresh and saltwater fish. He lists the many exceptions that have evolved to the three old rules of how to play a fish. These exceptions, he points out, form the basis of a more modern approach, which focuses on the angler gaining and keeping control by directing the fight on his terms and utilizing psychological tactics to break the fish's will to fight.

Franke explains fully and clearly the types of equipment for different situations, including rod flexibilities as well as the attributes of various reels' drag systems and arbor sizes. He carefully outlines the reasons for using certain leaders, lines and tippets and includes a helpful table of "Recommended Knots for the Line/Leader System."

This book is the culmination of thorough research and years of experience. It prepares you for successfully hooking, playing and landing your prey under many conditions while facing many obstacles. Franke's suggestions and explanations are certain to improve your ratio of fish hooked to fish landed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeping the big ones, January 9, 2010

By 

David Carradini (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fish On!: A Guide to Playing and Landing Big Fish on a Fly (Hardcover)

I bought this book after fishing the Bow River for several days and losing some spectacularly big rainbows and browns and after failing to set the hook in time for more fish than my poor guide could count -- great and patient guy. (The fish there are startlingly big: a seventeen-inch rainbow is on the smallish side, and browns and rainbows up to thirty inches are not uncommon.) He starts with the three rules for getting and keeping fish -- you'll have to read the book if you don't know what they are -- then brings the reader through a set of reflections that appear counter-intuitive at first but then keep the reader thoroughly hooked. I learned some great strategies and I'm looking forward to trying them in the future. The author learned most of what he knows through the renowned Wulff School, and I think the book would be very profitably supplemented with any videos from that school you can get your hands on.