Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.